MTA Works to Avoid D.C. Train Tragedy
Officials improve training and review systems
Thursday, Jan 7, 2010 | Updated 3:00 PM PST
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Investigators work at the site where two Red Line Metrorail trains collided with one another between the Fort Totten and Takoma Park stations in Washington, DC.
Metro officials vowed today to do all they can to avoid a repeat of the tragic commuter train crash in Washington, D.C.
"We will of course review the MTA system, take a look at it, and see whether or not we might be vulnerable to such an episode here," Metro CEO Art Leahy said at today's board meeting.
"I know that we'll be refreshing our training list with our rail operators and our controllers to ensure that they respond properly and per the rule book to any such system failure which might occur."
Leahy said he rode a train from Union Station to North Hollywood yesterday, and talked to the train operator about the signal system, the tracks and other equipment.
"I was impressed by what I saw," he said.
Nine people were killed on Monday when one train rear-ended another during rush hour in the nation's capital. It was the deadliest accident in Metrorail's 33-year history.
Last Sept. 12, a Metrolink train slammed head-on into a Union Pacific freight train near Chatsworth, killing 25 people and injuring 135 others.
Investigators determined the engineer of the Metrolink train was texting just before the crash, and that agency is investing millions of dollars in automatic train stop technology.
