HOUSTON — Houston’s Metropolitan Transit Authority has shut down 15 miles of light rail operations, affecting three routes, to deal with a “wire fatigue” problem that could put bystanders at risk of contact with a live electrical line.
The Houston Chronicle reports that the closure of all of the Green and Purple lines, as well as the newest portion of the Red Line, will be closed for at least a week to address the wire problem, although a permanent fix could take longer. The areas affected are the newest portions of Houston’s light rail system, having opened in the last six years.
The closure follows two breaks of the system’s overhead electrical lines in the last two months, both at junctions of two wires. Metro CEO Tom Lambert said the agency does not yet know the cause of the problem. Additional support wires will be installed at similar junctions before the lines are reopened.
During the closure, shuttle buses will replace the light rail service. An estimated 19,000 daily trips are affected.
There must be something different about the catenary on the newer segments of METRORail to result in early deterioration. The pending storms tonight (Thursday 9 May) and tomorrow (Friday 10 May) will delay repairs.
Wire specs not met ? Vendor out of business?