The WMATA is warning passengers ^[1] that if temperatures approach 100 degrees tomorrow, it will slow down afternoon trains and increase the time between them. Since this is highly likely, expect longer wait times on that platform blast furnace, and more crowding than usual. Great, just great.

But as Tom points out ^[2], August is the big month for vacations so perhaps the crowding won’t be that bad. But you will still have to endure waiting longer in the heat.

“The purpose of expanding train time departures and reducing train speeds during the afternoon periods will help Metro conserve electricity, and reduce the amount of power needed to operate the trains,” said Steven Feil, Metro’s Chief Operating Officer for Metrorail. “With these changes, passengers should prepare for delays and crowded conditions on all rail lines.”

They are also planning on keeping an eye on the tracks due to a peculiar condition know as “heat kinks,” which can happen if the rails overheat causing them to expand and “cannot be constrained by the cross ties and ballast supporting the track.” That sounds real safe.