WMSC adopts multiple safety investigation reports; staff details derailment, roadway-worker near-misses and a series of improper door operations

The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission reviewed a group of safety-investigation reports and voted unanimously to adopt them.

Mister Quigley, presenting the investigations, summarized a June 9 derailment at Mount Vernon Square in which a prime mover pushing a flat car entered a pocket track where a fixed derailer "remained in the derail position and caused the flat car to, derail," he said. The event damaged a flat car and track infrastructure; there were no reported injuries. The WMSC has opened a data-driven investigation into procedures for track access and derailer positioning.

Quigley also presented a roadway-worker protection investigation (Whiskey0377) concerning an entry on Aug. 25, 2024, when a roadway worker in charge (RIC) reported the wrong alphanumeric location to the rail traffic controller and placed protective shunts at Southern Avenue rather than at the location for which exclusive track occupancy had been granted at Anacostia. Quigley summarized the probable cause as "the RIC's incorrect identification of their physical location compounded by ineffective communication with the rail traffic controller." The worker was removed from service, tested and required to take refresher RWP training; Metrorail has an open CAP (C0280) to improve RWP compliance with completion scheduled in October 2026.

Door-operation events (Whiskey0378–Whiskey0382): WMSC staff presented five improper door-operation investigations at multiple stations (Glenmont, Silver Spring, Braddock Road, Innovation Center and a second Silver Spring event). Causes cited across those investigations included operator loss of situational awareness, unfamiliarity with station physical characteristics after station closures or construction (scaffolding obstructing ACAR markers), mechanical or automatic-door failures not identified as causal, and operator fatigue in at least one case. In the Braddock Road case Quigley said the operator had received about five hours of sleep and admitted to "fighting sleep at the time of the incident." Typical remedies included retraining, removal from service pending toxicology testing and operational reminders to staff.

Person struck (Whiskey0383): Quigley reported an intentional trespass incident at Landover Station on Aug. 25, 2024, where a rider jumped from the platform into the right-of-way and was struck; the person survived with non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital. Quigley said the response involved WMATA, the Metropolitan Transit Police Department and Prince George's County Fire Department; he also noted findings related to radio issues and an expired warning-strobe device (WASDE) that complicated the emergency response timeline.

Commission action and vote: After presentations, a motion was made and seconded to adopt the investigation reports Whiskey0377 through Whiskey0383. "So, chair, it's a unanimous vote, to adopt the investigation reports, Whiskey377 through Whiskey383 as presented," the clerk reported.

Ending: Commissioners said the near-misses and improper-door events underline the importance of RWP improvements, consistent territory familiarization training and attention to operator fatigue and communications equipment.