In the News

(ABC7) — According to a new FTA report, Metro employees aren't properly securing and storing rail cars and equipment in rail yards.

The investigaton into the issue comes after three incidents between 2014 and 2015, where vehicles rolled unintentionally, including a two car train that only stopped once an operator applied the hand brake.

Metro policies call for using a handbrake and spacing between trains when they are stored, to prevent accidents, but the report shows supervisors discourage handbrakes use because of challenges during their use.

The report states "due to challenges in applying handbrakes, the length of time required to apply them, and the difficulty in confirming their disengagement prior to moving trains under power, supervisors in rail transportationand car maintenance generally discourage use of these safety devices."

Another finding shows metro's own operator training manuals aren't up to date to include information on hand brakes for the new 7000 series rail cars.

Today the FTA issued six new safety directives to make sure vehicles are properly stored

Metro now has 30 days to respond.

In a statment a metro spokesperson tells ABC7, "Metro has been working with FTA to address the issues identified in the safety directive and will undertake the necessary corrective actions within fta's deadlines."

In a statement Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly said "The latest safety directive issued today by the FTA demonstrates another troubling breakdown of Metro safety culture – this time regarding regulations for securing unattended trains. Important securement safety protocol is either not in place, ignored, or misunderstood by employees. This disregard for basic safety is unacceptable and simply should not happen. Thankfully, these issues have have not resulted in serious injury or worse."

http://wjla.com/news/local/new-fta-report-faults-metro-for-not-securing-storing-rail-cars-properly