A non-commuter train approaching a switch by the Smithsonian Metro station derailed early Thursday, shutting down both tracks of the Blue, Orange and Silver lines.
The operator was the only person on the train and wasn’t injured, according to a Metro spokesperson.
Metro officials encouraged commuters to ride Metrobus shuttles as an alternative to those three lines until further notice. Tracks may be shut down through the afternoon and into tonight, according to Metro spokesperson Sherri Ly.
Timothy Wilson, a spokesperson for the Washington, D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, said rescue crews sent fire engines to the scene but left the scene approximately 20 minutes after arriving. He added the department averages one call from Metro per month.
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Ly said the accident occurred around 5:20 a.m. when three of the six railcars came off the tracks. She mentioned there is minor damage to the cars but Metro officials cannot determine the extent of the damage to the tracks until the railcars are removed.
Eric Weiss, a spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board, said the board is aware of the event but is not investigating it.
