

Update: (6:20 p.m.)

Orange, Blue and Silver Line service will remain suspended between Eastern Market and L’Enfant Plaza through tonight’s closing, Metro spokesman Richard Jordan said. Metro told riders to consider the Red, Yellow or Green Lines as alternatives. The agency said to expect “significant delays” on the Orange, Blue and Silver Lines.

Shuttle service was in place between Eastern Market and L’Enfant Plaza. Metro said Capitol South, which is adjacent to Federal Center SW, would also remain closed. Trains will turn back at Eastern Market and L’Enfant Plaza, the agency said.

Commuters shared photos of massive crowds on station platforms.

I'm bailing. And crowds are growing. @bikeshare shall carry me the rest o the way sans smoke. #wmata pic.twitter.com/135KbckS6U — Kris Ankarlo (@KrisAnkarlo) May 5, 2016

Update: (5:38 p.m.)

Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld, in consultation with the Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration, has ordered Federal Center SW station closed for the rest of the day for a full third-rail insulator replacement, Metro said. The Thursday afternoon fire was the station’s second of the day; Metro said it was caused by debris on the track. The earlier incident was an arcing insulator. Metro said the decision was reached after consultation with the Federal Transit Administration, which oversees safety on the system.

In consultation w/USDOT/FTA, Metro GM has ordered Fed Ctr SW remain closed for rest of today for full 3rd rail insulator replacement. #wmata — Metro (@wmata) May 5, 2016

The system’s thousands of insulators are among the many pieces of equipment and infrastructure expected to be replaced or repaired as part of Wiedefeld’s plan to rehab the system. The plan will be announced Friday.

[Metro chief to unveil plan Friday for fixing rail system’s woes]

Original post

Metro service is suspended on the Orange, Blue and Silver Lines between Eastern Market and L’Enfant Plaza due to a smoke incident at Federal Center SW, the agency said Thursday.

Metro said the Capitol South and Eastern Market stations are closed. Metrobus shuttle service is being established to transport riders between the two stations. D.C. fire department spokesman Doug Buchanan said the problem was an arcing insulator. He said the fire department received a report of a “light smoke haze” in the station. Firefighters responded and cleared the scene about 5:30, he said.

As a precaution, some trains were reversed out of the station, Metro said.

Some trains being reversed out of Federal Center as safety precaution, track problem. Expect delays & some offloads. 4:42p #wmata — Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) May 5, 2016

Metro Transit Police said there were no injuries in the incident.

We will update this post as we hear more.