A police investigation at Fort Totten Metro station forced Red Line trains to single-track between Takoma and Fort Totten on Tuesday afternoon, delaying riders in both directions as the rush hour commute got underway.
Metro Rail Info, WMATA's official service alert account, posted the disruption notice at 4:07 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 18. The agency did not disclose what prompted the investigation.
WMATA did not say why.
The agency later issued an all-clear, confirming trains were no longer single-tracking. Residual delays continued in both directions after normal service resumed. The exact duration of the disruption was not announced.
Why it matters for riders
Fort Totten, at 550 Galloway St. NE, is one of four major transfer points on the Metrorail system, connecting the Red, Green and Yellow lines. According to WMATA ridership data, the station averaged 6,176 daily riders in 2025, ranking 18th out of 98 Metro stations.
Single-tracking forces trains in both directions to share one track through the affected section, roughly doubling wait times between those stations. Because Fort Totten is a transfer hub, delays on the Red Line can cascade into longer waits for riders switching to or from the Green and Yellow lines, though WMATA's alerts Tuesday mentioned only the Red Line.
How to stay informed
The Metro Rail Info account on X is monitored Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Riders can follow @Metrorailinfo for real-time service updates.
Riders who witness emergencies or suspicious activity on Metro can call Transit Police at (202) 962-2121, available 24 hours a day, or text MYMTPD to 696873.
