Metro News Release
For immediate release: June 30, 2009
Metro taking additional actions after collision
Rail cars shifting, external resources called in, investigation continues
FAQs related to train accident
External experts in track signaling and circuitry from across the country are in discussions with Metro officials in an effort to help determine what may have caused last week’s train collision. The experts were contacted by Metro to assist with the transit agency’s investigation into what went wrong to cause two trains to collide on the Red Line at the start of the afternoon rush hour on June 22.
“We have been talking with subject-matter experts in the field of track signaling for the past few days. We have contacted the American Public Transportation Association to be part of this effort,” Metro General Manager John Catoe said. This effort will include an independent review of critical components such as signals and circuitry. Final findings will be important to Metro, but also may eventually impact the rest of the transit industry as well, he said.
Signals, circuits, relays and other components are located in the track bed and in special train control booths that enable trains and the Operations Control Center to communicate with each other to move trains and passengers safely.
In an effort to facilitate the internal review, Catoe also announced an immediate realignment of some staff from Metro’s Rail Department and Infrastructure and Renewal Department while this investigation is underway so that all staff who are affiliated with signal and track responsibilities, whether they are engineers or maintenance staff, are housed together in our Operations Department. This alignment will “better facilitate the current investigation as well as maintenance of the rail system,” Catoe said. “We think that if they are combined into one unit it will create a stronger team that will make it easier to share their experience, knowledge and expertise as this investigation proceeds.”
In addition to the review by outside independent experts, and realigning staff, Metro has already implemented several other actions since last week’s accident, including inspections of all 3,000 track circuits; shifting the position of the 1000-series cars; restricting speeds on the Red Line; and operating all trains manually.
Catoe said he would not consider returning trains to automatic mode until officials have evaluated the recommendations made by the team of outside experts.
Metro officials are in the process of shifting the 1000-series cars (the oldest rail cars in the fleet), which were involved in last week’s accident, between the newer series of cars when a train is put into service. This is because the first car of the striking train in last Monday’s accident sustained the most damage, and officials believe that if those cars are relocated to the center of six- and eight-car trains the newer cars may absorb the majority of impact in the event of a collision. The shifting of rail cars is a complicated logistical process that involves moving cars from one rail yard to another when the rail system is closed. Nevertheless, rail car maintenance staff has been working overtime to reconfigure rail cars throughout the system. At this point, at least 80 percent of all trains have the 1000-series cars positioned in the middle of the trains.
A consequence of mixing 1000-series cars with newer models such as the 6000-series cars will mean that the interior next station stop signs, which are featured in the 6000-series vehicles, will not function. However all critical railcar operations and safety mechanisms will work.
“These rail cars are safe,” Catoe said. There are no plans to remove the nearly 300 old rail cars from service. “We have no evidence that these 1000-series cars contributed to the cause of the accident. But I understand that the public perception may be different. Removing them from service is not practical, nor is it necessary,” Catoe explained.
The cars comprise approximately 25 percent of the rail fleet and removing them from service would see a return to four- and six-car trains and an increase of approximately 40 people per car in terms of crowding.
Metro also has reduced speeds to a maximum of 35 mph throughout the Red Line while the investigation continues between the Fort Totten and Takoma Metrorail stations. The slower speeds help keep the trains moving steadily along the line since trains moving through the investigation zone must move at an even slower pace. Part of this investigation includes closing the Takoma Metrorail station at 10 p.m. each night since Sunday (June 28) to allow investigators to have more track access for the investigation.
Metro began inspecting all 3,000 circuits on all rail lines along the 106-mile rail system shortly after the accident. Sixty-five percent have been inspected and are functioning properly. This inspection is to check that the circuits are working properly and are sending the correct signals between the trains, tracks and the Operations Control Center.
Metro’s Board of Directors voted last week (June 23) to establish an emergency hardship relief fund of $250,000 to provide financial relief to the families of the victims of the collision to assist with medical, funeral and other immediate expenses. Individuals seeking emergency hardship relief fund assistance and customers who were on board one of the trains involved in the collision and are seeking to file an injury claim should call 202-962-1681.
Metro General Manager John Catoe comments from June 30 press conference
Audio from June 30 press conference
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Media contact for this news release: Steven Taubenkibel or Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.
For all other inquiries, please call customer service at 202-637-7000.
News release issued at 4:51 pm, June 30, 2009.