How some paint helps Metro keep the trains running during this heat wave

The extreme heat has been causing delays for rail systems up and down the east coast this week, and Metro isn鈥檛 totally immune, but the transit system is doing everything it can to mitigate issues.

One bright spot is the reduction in the number of so-called 鈥渉ot cars鈥� 鈥� train cars where the air conditioning isn鈥檛 working and people are packed together and roasting. Steps are being taken to make sure that if it does happen, the problem is quickly solved.

鈥淲e have mechanics riding the system and actively using their temperature guns to check temperature to ensure we’re monitoring reports of hot cars,鈥� said Metro Deputy General Manager Andy Off. 鈥淎nd if you do experience a hot car, certainly we want to hear from you.”

Sometimes you鈥檒l see another Metro workers riding shotgun with the train operators.

鈥淲e do what’s called heat rides, looking for any anomalies in the track,鈥� said Off. Usually in places where the track might turn or be on a hill, those who are familiar with the rails can tell if an issue might be developing.

鈥淭hey are looking for a potential warp in the rail or things of that nature,鈥� said Clarke. 鈥淲ith this type of heat the track expansion can be real, so that’s what they’re looking for, and then we could put a speed restriction in place.鈥�

Slow downs will occur when rail temperatures hit 135 degrees.

鈥淕enerally doesn’t mean there’s necessarily a safety issue,鈥� Clarke added.

鈥淚t could be just a maintenance issue that we鈥檝e got to work on. But it might mean that we got to get people out there that are specialized, and that might mean 鈥� for safety’s sake, we’ll put a speed restriction. It’s safe to run over, but hey, we’re going to reduce the speed to 35 mph in that section just to reduce the force and load and the potential of something going wrong.鈥�

Metro has also started trying another way to keep those track segments a little bit cooler. About 6,000 feet of track throughout the system have been painted white, an idea used in other parts of the world too.

鈥淥ur rails, like most materials, if they’re black, they tend to absorb heat,鈥� Off said. 鈥淚f they’re lighter, they tend to reflect heat. So that same general principle applies in this scenario.

鈥淲e’re giving it a trial run to see if painting the rails white drives down the temperature of the rail during these heat events,鈥� he added.

鈥淓arly indications are positive. We鈥檝e seen about, I believe, six to eight degree drop lower when they are painted white.鈥�

It鈥檚 not to the point where Metro will be painting all of its outdoor tracks white 鈥� the program is still being evaluated, but those 6 to 8 degree differences can still be significant.

鈥淭hat can be the difference between something bad happening and not,鈥� Off said. 鈥淪o we’ll take it.鈥�

While the infrastructure is the biggest concern during a heat wave, that doesn鈥檛 mean passenger safety isn鈥檛 also on the minds at Metro. Medical emergencies happen every day throughout the system, and crews will be ready for it if anyone spends too much time outside.

鈥淲e need people to be hydrated, we need people to be prepared,鈥� Clarke said. 鈥淲e are very concerned and will be watching closely if someone has any medical issues on the system. We鈥檒l closely with D.C. Fire, but when that happens, it can have serious impacts to service, especially if it happens on the train.

鈥淲e have a lot of station staff that are trained in CPR, and some first aid,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e have a lot of police out there. It’s just hot, and we just need people to be prepared, stay in the shade. But we’re also very worried about our employees. We have a lot of employees that are out working, so we’re trying to rotate them and say, hey, every 15-20 minutes, get in, get the air conditioning, drink some water.

鈥淟isten, it’s hot,鈥� Clarke also said. 鈥淚t’s not the end of the world, but just 鈥� some basic common sense here. We’ll keep everyone safe for the next few days.鈥�

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