Washington's subway network suspends 60 percent of its fleet after a train derailed

Authorities ordered the Washington, D.C. metropolitan Transportation Authority to offload nearly 60 percent of the rail fleet on Monday after a safety investigation found faults similar to an issue that led to a recent train derailment.

Without these wagons, the subway network, which serves Washington, D.C., and parts of Maryland and Virginia, said it would "operate about 40 trains (Monday) and provide a basic mode of service on all train lines that depart approximately every 30 minutes."

 This schedule may result in some significant delays for rush hour passengers.

 The suspension was prompted by an ongoing investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board into a train derailment on October 12.

 The Washington Metro Rail Safety Commission said it on Sunday ordered some trains to be retired no later than 5 a.m. Monday (0900 GMT) after the National Transportation Safety Board noted safety concerns about wheel spacing on those trains' axles.

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