WMSC adopts investigations into employee injury, operator misconduct and multiple red-signal overruns

The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission voted unanimously on May 13 to adopt nine investigation reports into a set of safety events that occurred between March 2024 and September 2024, including an employee injury with permanent finger disfigurement, operator misconduct involving a concealed cell phone, a 29-minute loss of radio communication with a train operator, and multiple red-signal overruns in yards and on the mainline.

The motion to adopt investigation reports Whiskey0368 through Whiskey0376 passed 5–0. The reports and staff presentations outlined probable causes and corrective actions for each event.

Key incidents and findings - Employee injury (Whiskey0368): On March 8, 2024, an automatic train control (ATC) maintenance mechanic suffered severe injuries to two right-hand fingers while performing switch maintenance at Switch 315 in West Falls Church Yard. Investigators found that the switch had not been mechanically or electronically isolated, the interlocking operator did not confirm the crew’s work area was clear, and an ATC crew member in the tower lacked training on the digital interlocking control board. Metro implemented corrective steps including familiarization…