Skip to main content

Metro temporarily lifts water ban on buses and trains amid heatwave

By Max Smith

WASHINGTON – Metro is lifting its loosely-enforced ban on drinking water on trains and buses July 3 and July 4 due to the extreme heat hitting the D.C. region.

“The exception to Metro’s ‘no eating or drinking’ policy applies to water only – in stations and aboard trains, buses and MetroAccess vehicles,” Metro said in a statement.

The food and drink ban, which riders do not always follow, is legally enforceable in Maryland, Virginia and D.C.

Metro Transit Police officers will not enforce it against water bottles Tuesday or Wednesday, although it is infrequently enforced anyway.

Metro said all chillers in indoor Metro stations are working. Those chillers cool the air somewhat in stations but become less effective as the “feels like” temperature outside rises above 100 degrees.

Air conditioning in rail cars is usually more effective, bringing the temperature down about 20 degrees.

Metro asks riders who are not feeling well to ask a station manager to call for medical help.

Metro’s Red Line returns to normal after water floods control room

By Will Vitka
Red Line riders faced significant delays Wednesday after a pipe broke and water flooded a train control room, impacting signals outside the Van Ness Metro station. But Metro said Thursday morning that crews tested the signaling system at Van Ness and are "confident service between Friendship Heights and Dupont Circle will start without delays or disruption at 5 a.m."
Read Next Story