WMATA completes installation of fiberglass insulators

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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In this 2013 photo, a fiberglass insulator has been installed while the old insulators are piled behind.
@MetroForward/Twitter

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has finished the replacement of third-rail insulators at underground station platforms with safer, more heat-resistant fiberglass insulators.

 

WMATA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Paul Wiedefeld accelerated the removal of porcelain insulators from underground stations following an arcing insulator incident at Federal Center SW that resulted in a temporary suspension of service between Eastern Market and L’Enfant Plaza stations in May.

The specially-designed fiberglass rail insulators support the third rail, which provides 750 volts of electric traction power to WMATA railcars. Third-rail insulators are installed at intervals of approximately 10 feet along the more than 230 miles of track.

 

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