Metro train separates with passengers aboard

ROCKVILLE, Md. - An equipment malfunction caused a Metro train to detach while passengers were onboard during Monday morning's commute.

The incident happened just before 9 a.m. near the Twinbrook Station along the Red Line in the Rockville area. WAMU transportation reporter and FOX 5 contributor Martin Di Caro said that a coupler between the second and third train cars became disengaged while a train was leaving the station.

As the train pulled away, several cars were left behind leaving about 40 passengers stranded. They had to be evacuated onto the tracks by Metro workers.

Metro claims the train's safety system "worked as intended and brought the train cars to a stop."

Trains along the Red Line near the Twinbrook station were single-tracking for about 30 minutes while the matter was addressed. The track is now back to normal, but there were some residual delays.

The railcars involved were 7000-series cars, the newest in Metro's fleet. They were rolled out in the spring of 2015 and are supposed to replace a large portion of older Metro trains.

Metro said any passengers affected by the incident can reach out to the transit agency for a reimbursement of their fare. Metro said the cause remains under investigation.

No injuries were reported.