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Photograph of investigators at the scene of the Metro crash in Washington D.C. this morning by Charles Dharapak/AP
Authorities now say that seven people are confirmed dead in the collision of two Metro trains in Washington D.C. yesterday afternoon. At least 70 others were severely injured and crews are still removing debris and looking for possible victims. Two sets of six-car trains collided on the Red Line near the Fort Totten station; Metro's general manager explained yesterday, "At 5:02 p.m., one train was stopped waiting to get the order to pass, because the train stopped at a platform. The next train came up behind it, and for reasons we do not know, plodded into the back of that train - the operator of that train was the one who lost her life." The first car of the second train was going so fast that it was lodged on top of the first train.
While the investigation is just beginning, speculation is that system failures and operator error may have caused the collision; the Washington Post reports:
Metro was designed with a fail-safe computerized signal system that is supposed to prevent trains from colliding. The agency's trains are run by onboard computers that control speed and braking. Another electronic system detects the position of trains to maintain a safe distance between them. If they get too close, the computers automatically apply the brakes, stopping the trains.This morning, during a press conference, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said that the city had not yet notified the next of kin of victims, because they were still trying to establish their identities. So far, only train operator Jeannie McMillan has been identified as one of the fatalities. DCist also reports, "NTSB spokesperson Debbie Hersman said this morning that the struck train should have nine data recorders on it, as it was composed mostly of newer model rail cars, but they do not expect to get good data from the striking train, as it was made up of older, 1000-series cars."These systems were supposed to make yesterday's crash impossible.
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Terrible accident, and the first thing that occurred to me was "Don't they have electronic failsafe systems that automatically engage the brakes if a signal is run or a train is too close?"
So much for technology.
from the article, Alstom made the signaling system. That french company is NOT the same contracted to provide the robot train control in new york. we used a german company: Siemens.
The DC Metro dates only to 1976 -- gives great confidence to our own 100-whatever year old system.
It should actually.
While this event is really tragic, it further highlights the safety record of the DC metro. There have been 3 fatal train collisions on that system in the past 15 years... since 1995.
New York City (to my knowledge) has had no fatal collisions in that same time period, while being a bigger system and moving more people.
As an old system, NYC subway operators have gotten used to making upgrades and repairs, and they are more experienced. In contrast the DC metro is just entering middle-age.. some of that shiny new technology is beginning to fail... and DC Metro staff are just learning how to deal with it
and GM made the cars for the dc metro.
Erroneous.
This is so sad.
Really really awful.
I am afraid that this tragic accident will ultimately prove to be due to human error, perhaps due to the train operator texting or talking on her cell at the time she was approaching the stopped train in the station. Failure of the failsafe mechanism will be a secondary cause.
It's pretty early to make such a judgement. Let's wait before jumping to conclusions about human error and defaming the dead.
I'll jump to the conclusion that texting, in conjunction with a failed safety mechanism, was to blame. Look at the recent commuter train accidents in L.A. and Boston. Texting.
planes, trains, and automobiles are increasingly deadly in this modern age of infrastructure disrepair. WWJD? i'm switching to safe, eco-friendly donkey transportation.
Don't let PETA hear you say that.
Actually, planes, trains and automobiles are vastly more safe now than they have ever been.
stats? or i'm still switchin' to turbo-donkey.
I caught that show in Tijuana.
http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_statistics/
Poke around for a while and it will be fairly obvious.
Be sure to wear a helmet!
Telescoping train collisions are the worst, most deadly type for people riding in the affected cars. I'm surprised the death toll wasn't greater as these kinds of impacts crush and obliterate victims instantaneously. It had to be a signal error.
Is it Volvo or some other car company that has an accident prevention system that brakes the vehicle if it senses the speed and closeness of the vehicles will cause a collision? If a dual system, independent of each other, was used perhaps this accident would not have occurred. That plus the input of the train operator would make three systems that would prevent an accident.
What is the fatality rate for the BART system out in SF? That's been in operation for several decades I believe.
BART has had a few wrecks, but according to Wikipedia, no passengers have ever died.