Communication at Metro slowly returning to normal

WASHINGTON - Metro's communication glitch that prevented riders from paying with credit and debit cards Wednesday morning is getting back on track.

The transit agency says services started getting back to normal around 8:30 a.m.

However, some riders tell WTOP they were still having trouble paying with plastic. Customers have been limited to charging a maximum of $20 at fare vending machines.

The NextBus system, SmartBenefits and the e-alert system are also not operational.

At 2:45 a.m., an internal power distribution unit failed at Metro headquarters, disrupting bus and rail operations.

The unit provides power to a key computer data center for the transit agency.

During the morning, Metrobuses were not accepting fares. Fares are now being accepted, Metro says.

Metro also could not communicate with its bus drivers in the field, and the public address system was not working.

The problem did not affect Metro's ability to monitor subway trains.

Metro says its trains, buses and paratransit service are operating as usual.

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