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 training on digital interlocking panels, revised procedures requiring mechanical and electronic isolation before maintenance, and new requirements that control-center personnel request medical assistance for yard injuries.

- Operator cell-phone use (Whiskey0369): On April 11, 2024, a Metrorail safety specialist aboard a train observed and later confirmed via CCTV that a train operator was using a concealed cell phone while operating revenue service train 410. The operator was removed from service, escorted for post-incident toxicology testing (which was not completed because of an error on the form), and ultimately terminated. Metro has since reinforced electronic-device policies and begun an installation program for inward- and outward-facing audio/video recording devices in all operating compartments, scheduled for completion in 2028.

- Loss of communication (Whiskey0370): On May 9, 2024, Train 700 stopped at a red signal near Friendship Heights and failed to respond to repeated radio calls from the rail-traffic controller for roughly 29 minutes. A rail supervisor found the operator on board who said they were unaware of the radio attempts. Investigators found the operator did not use alternate communications (emergency trip station phone) as required and removed the operator for post-incident evaluation. Metro realigned radio infrastructure and reinforced training on alternate communication methods.

- Red-signal overruns (Whiskey0371–0376): WMSC staff reported a total of 42 red-signal overruns from January 2021 through April 2025; 41 were reported by Metro and one was discovered by WMSC oversight. Investigations presented at the meeting covered multiple yard and mainline overruns. Causes varied: improper track storage alignment at New Carrollton Yard that allowed a lead car to miss the signal; operator unfamiliarity with yard layout at Dulles Yard; improper ATC maintenance testing that introduced an erroneous 55 mph speed command during live operations near King Street Old Town (which damaged a switch); remote terminal unit (RTU) outages that interfered with signal monitoring; and lapses in communications and supervisory direction during double-ended operations at Downtown Largo.

Corrective actions and follow-up Investigators documented corrective actions including retraining ATC personnel on testing procedures and prohibiting certain tests during revenue hours, repositioning track hardware and signage to prevent car storage from obscuring signals, retraining operators and supervisors on movement authorization and territory familiarization, radio-system realignment, and software updates to reduce RTU outages. The control center was also required to begin requesting medical assistance directly for yard incidents in the mechanic injury case.

Commissioner and staff comments Mister Quigley and Miss Keyrose (presenting investigators) walked commissioners through each report; commissioners asked detailed operational questions about communications, yards familiarization, testing practices and whether ATO would reduce or complicate these failure modes. Vice Chair Lavi expressed concern about delays in dispatching emergency medical response after the yard injury; staff said Metro has changed control-center procedures so that emergency services are called when injuries are reported. Commissioners also pressed Metro to address territory familiarization for yard and mainline operators, noting multiple yard overruns involved operators unfamiliar with the yard layout.

The Commission approved the nine investigation reports as presented and closed the matter with a 5–0 vote.