"We conducted a thorough investigation of the train’s doors, electronics, operating and engineering components collaboratively with CAF, the railcar manufacturer, and all indications led us to conclude that the coffee that accidently spilled into the train’s console damaged the train’s control board, which caused the doors to open," said Fred Goodine, Metro’s Assistant General Manager for Safety and Risk Protection.

Metro’s engineers and safety officials determined today that a cup of coffee spilled in the console in railcar number 5190 and caused last week’s incident because the liquid damaged the trains master control system.

At 2:40 p.m. on Tuesday, August 30, the six-car Orange Line train was operating in automatic mode. Train 900 stopped at Metro Center and the train doors opened. The train began to move and the train operator immediately pressed the emergency brake to stop the train a second time, closing the doors. Passengers on board notified the operator via the train intercoms that they were not able to exit because the doors were closed. The operator then reopened the train doors to allow customers to exit. The train began to move again, and the operator pressed a second emergency brake, and notified the Operations Control Center.

The train stopped a third time, with both leafs of one door in the tunnel, after moving from its initial stopping point. The passengers were off-loaded and the train was taken to the rail yard for an investigation.

Later that same day, Metro officials ordered all of its trains that are in the 5000 series to operate in manual mode as a precaution. That order will be lifted now that the investigation has concluded that the train’s malfunction was triggered by the coffee, and was not a problem that would occur on its other railcars.

Metro officials are working with the railcar manufacturer, CAF, to explore options to prevent the risk of further occurrences. Metro officials also will reinforce its rules related to non-consumption of food and beverages in train cabs with all of its operators.