Metro News Release

For immediate release: February 13, 2004

Metro reminds customers to stand clear of the closing rail car doors and to move into the center of the rail car when using Metrorail

With the high volume of people using Metrorail everyday, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) would like to remind everyone the importance of door safety as it pertains to the Metrorail system. "With more people using the Metrorail system than ever before, especially during the AM and PM peak periods, it is important for customers to stand clear of the doors once they hear the chimes," said Fred Goodine, Metro’s Assistant General Manager for Systems Safety and Risk Protection. "Stepping away as the doors close and not making an attempt to board a train as the doors are closing will prevent a chance of injury," said Mr. Goodine. At a recent Metro Board of Directors Safety Committee meeting, the Department of System Safety and Risk Protection reported an increase in the number of injuries as a result of customers coming in contact with doors. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2004 (July 1-September 30, 2003), injuries accounted for 60 percent of all rail passenger injuries. As compared with the first quarter of fiscal year 2003, door injuries only accounted for 33 percent of all rail passenger injuries. "It is important for our customers to remember that train doors do not reopen automatically like elevator doors," said Mr. Goodine. "Once these doors begin to close, they will not reopen. On occasion, I have seen customers try to keep the doors open with their hands to guide other customers into a car. We discourage that type of behavior because those doors can close on a customer’s hand, which may result in an injury." Another issue as it pertains to Metrorail service has to do with customers leaning on, or in many cases, blocking the doors. "We always remind our customers to not lean on Metrorail car doors," said Lem Proctor, Metro’s Chief Operating Officer, Rail Service. "If a customer is leaning on a train door, or preventing the doors from closing at a station, the rail operator will not receive an "all doors closed signal." This will prevent the train from moving, and if the rail operator cannot get a closed signal, the operator will have no choice but to remove the train from service as a safety precaution," said Mr. Proctor. "Removing a train from service is a tremendous inconvenience not only for the customers on that train, but for customers waiting for a train and knowing there is a delay," said Mr. Proctor. "That’s why it is important for our customers to understand and realize they have a significant role in the day-to-day operations of Metrorail service, and how their actions impact our service reliability." "For Metrorail to move customers in a safe, efficient, and timely manner requires cooperation, teamwork and responsibility from everyone," said Jim Gallagher, Deputy General Manager for Operations. "Every employee that works for Metrorail has a responsibility to ensure we have the appropriate number of rail cars ready for service each day, and that we move nearly 650,000 customers each weekday in a safe environment. "And we ask for the same level of commitment from our customers," he added. "Our customers have a responsibility to move safely in and out of every rail car, and to move inside the body of the car without blocking the doors. Finally, blocking the doors, or holding the doors open can delay everyone on the train, and may cause a system safety malfunction that requires a train to go out of service."Metro would like to remind its customers of the following safety tips:" Customers are reminded to stand on or behind the red tile (behind the bumpy tile) until the train comes to a complete stop." Always allow people to get off the train before boarding a train." Do not try to board a train after you hear the chimes or an announcement that the doors are closing. (During the peak periods, trains operate every 3 to 4 minutes. If a customer misses a train, another train will follow.)" Train doors do not reopen automatically like elevator doors. Customers are discouraged from trying to hold the doors open. Keep purses, backpacks, briefcases, clothing, packages, umbrellas and other personal items clear of the closing doors. " While inside the train, never lean against the doors. Leaning against the doors may cause a malfunction of the train and subsequently cause a train to be removed from service.

News release issued on February 13, 2004.