Train Crash in Washington

Max2147 · 06-23-09, 10:22 AM

Official death toll is now 7.

I'm pretty sure I was actually riding Metro when it happened. I rode the Red Line yesterday morning (albiet in a completely different part of town), but I decided to take Blue/Orange home. When I was walking out of the station I heard announcements about all sorts of stuff happening on the Red Line.

From the reports here in DC it sounds like the train was under automated control at the time. The only thing the driver does is close the doors at the station.

Both trains stopped in the middle of the track, with the following train well behind. This is fairly normal on the Metro system. But then for some reason, the following train started moving again while the leading train was still stopped.

At that point the driver could have prevented the accident by applying the emergency brakes. There was a similar incident a couple of years ago where two drivers prevented a collision by applying the emergency brakes after the automated control system failed. That was a huge relief, since it happened in a tunnel under the Potomac River.

In this case, the driver clearly failed to apply the brakes until it was too late or failed to apply them completely. That means that the driver was suicidal, incapacitated, distracted, or for some reason failed to see the train ahead.

Looking at this photo, the latter might be possible, even though the accident happened above ground on a clear day: http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-d...9062202697.jpg

Due to the curve, the bridge, the shadows caused by the bridge, and the chain link fence, the stationary leading train might not have been visible to the driver of the following train until it was too late.

It's also possible that the driver simply "zoned out" because she didn't have anything to do while the train was under manual control. In that state she might not have seen the train in front or reacted as quickly as she would have if she had been paying attention.

As far as the train model, I'm not sure if there's a major difference in safety features. I know Metro regularly refurbishes their old cars to bring them up to newer standards. However, the earliest trains (including the following train in yesterday's accident) have shown a tendency to "telescope" in accidents, with the body shell separating from the chassis. It looks like that happened yesterday too, which probably made the number of fatalities higher.

Oberon · 06-23-09, 10:24 AM

Terrible accident, reminds me a little of Clapham Junction, that was faulty signalling.

Terrible stuff.

Jimbuna · 06-23-09, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Terrible accident, reminds me a little of Clapham Junction, that was faulty signalling.

Terrible stuff.

That's what I was thinking

SteamWake · 06-23-09, 03:32 PM

Dont deny Steamwakes Instincts :rotfl:

Quote:

National Transportation Safety Board member Debbie Hersman said all "perishable data" has been collected in the first phase of the investigation and that the agency will now begin looking at such documents as cell-phone records, which includes accounts of text messages.
She said the agency has recently investigated two crashed in which a train operator was distracted when using a portable communication device -- including a May 8 incident in Boston in which 20 trolly passengers were injured.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...using-sensors/

Max2147 · 06-23-09, 04:48 PM

It's pretty clear that there were two separate failures. First, the automation failure that caused the train to stop moving, and the human failure that prevented it from stopping.

Unfortunately, most of the public scrutiny will be focused on the latter, even though the former is probably more serious.

SteamWake · 06-23-09, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max2147

In this case, the driver clearly failed to apply the brakes until it was too late or failed to apply them completely. That means that the driver was suicidal, incapacitated, distracted, or for some reason failed to see the train ahead..

Distracted... Id put money on it. Ill be a cell phone / blackberry was involved.

Which brings up a question I wanted to ask. I know the system is 'automated' but are there not signals or warning buzzers installed?

06-23-09, 10:22 AM	#1
Max2147 Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 714 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Official death toll is now 7. I'm pretty sure I was actually riding Metro when it happened. I rode the Red Line yesterday morning (albiet in a completely different part of town), but I decided to take Blue/Orange home. When I was walking out of the station I heard announcements about all sorts of stuff happening on the Red Line. From the reports here in DC it sounds like the train was under automated control at the time. The only thing the driver does is close the doors at the station. Both trains stopped in the middle of the track, with the following train well behind. This is fairly normal on the Metro system. But then for some reason, the following train started moving again while the leading train was still stopped. At that point the driver could have prevented the accident by applying the emergency brakes. There was a similar incident a couple of years ago where two drivers prevented a collision by applying the emergency brakes after the automated control system failed. That was a huge relief, since it happened in a tunnel under the Potomac River. In this case, the driver clearly failed to apply the brakes until it was too late or failed to apply them completely. That means that the driver was suicidal, incapacitated, distracted, or for some reason failed to see the train ahead. Looking at this photo, the latter might be possible, even though the accident happened above ground on a clear day: http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-d...9062202697.jpg Due to the curve, the bridge, the shadows caused by the bridge, and the chain link fence, the stationary leading train might not have been visible to the driver of the following train until it was too late. It's also possible that the driver simply "zoned out" because she didn't have anything to do while the train was under manual control. In that state she might not have seen the train in front or reacted as quickly as she would have if she had been paying attention. As far as the train model, I'm not sure if there's a major difference in safety features. I know Metro regularly refurbishes their old cars to bring them up to newer standards. However, the earliest trains (including the following train in yesterday's accident) have shown a tendency to "telescope" in accidents, with the body shell separating from the chassis. It looks like that happened yesterday too, which probably made the number of fatalities higher.

06-23-09, 10:24 AM	#2
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Terrible accident, reminds me a little of Clapham Junction, that was faulty signalling. Terrible stuff.

06-23-09, 04:48 PM	#5
Max2147 Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 714 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	It's pretty clear that there were two separate failures. First, the automation failure that caused the train to stop moving, and the human failure that prevented it from stopping. Unfortunately, most of the public scrutiny will be focused on the latter, even though the former is probably more serious.