Commuter Rail – Page 48 – Railfanning.org

NTSB Investigating WMATA Accident

January 26, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a team of investigators to today’s Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) accident in Rockville, Md. At 1:45 am (EST) a hi-rail vehicle, in the work zone on the red line near Rockville Station, struck and killed two employees on the track. The Metro employees, both males, were struck by a prime mover, a diesel-powered piece of equipment that is used to move heavy equipment, according to the preliminary report from Metro Transit Police. The employees were working along an outbound section of track on the Red Line in the direction

Metro Workers Struck by Track Equipment in Fatal Accident

January 26, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Two Metro track workers were struck and killed by a piece of track equipment early this morning, Jan. 26, near the Rockville Metrorail station.

Feds Announce New Safety Standards for Freight and Passenger Trains

January 23, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator Joseph Szabo on Jan. 12 announced historic safety regulations requiring that Positive Train Control (PTC) technology be installed on the nation’s major rail lines as well as commuter and intercity passenger rail routes.

Federal Authorities Want Recorders in Train Cabs

January 21, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Federal authorities want trains to be equipped with audio and image recorders capable of providing recordings to verify that train crew actions are in accordance with rules and procedures that are essential to safety as well as train operating conditions. The recommendation was part of a National Transportation Safety Board investigation into a fatal 2008 Metrolink wreck.

Burke Centre Now an Amtrak Stop

January 18, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

RICHMOND, Va. — Beginning Jan. 18, Amtrak Virginia passengers have one more option when traveling on Amtrak’s Northeast Regional service from Lynchburg as the Burke Centre station becomes an Amtrak stop. Previously the station only provided connecting service for Virginia Railway Express passengers. With this new designation, passengers may now book travel to and from Burke Centre on Amtrak.com. “By adding Burke Centre to the Amtrak system, the rail travel possibilities from central Virginia are significantly enhanced,” said Jay McArthur of Amtrak’s Policy and Development Department, noting that passengers may now book travel to and from Burke Centre to any

NTSB to Discuss Fatal Metrolink Wreck

January 15, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a Board meeting on Jan. 21to discuss a fatal 2008 Metrolinktrain crash. At 4:22 p.m. on Sept. 12, 2008, Metrolink commuter train 111 and a Union Pacific freight train collided. As a result of this head-on accident, there were 25 fatalities and numerous injuries. On the day of the wreck, the Metrolink engineer, who was responsible for the operation of the train, received and sent several text messages on his cell phone while he was on duty. The meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in its Board Room and Conference Center,

Metro General Manager John Catoe to Retire

January 14, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Metro General Manager John Catoe has decided to retire and leave the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority after three years as its top manager. Catoe informed Metro’s Board of Directors today of his decision to leave the transit agency. His last day will be Friday, April 2. “I have decided that it is time for me to channel my future in new directions and provide this organization an opportunity to move beyond the current distractions,” Catoe said. “Good leaders know how to impact change. Great leaders know when it’s time for leadership change. I hope I fall into

New Metro Transit Police Unit Focuses on Anti-Terrorism

January 6, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) now has a dedicated unit devoted to deterring a terrorist attack in the Metro system. The new anti-terrorism team will increase surveillance of the Metro system, conduct more frequent security sweeps of Metro facilities and tunnels, and provide greater visibility of uniformed officers. Using a $9.56 million Transit Security Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), MTPD formed the 20-member, anti-terror team in December. The team, whose mission is to deter terrorists from selecting Metro as a target, will use tactics such as increased surveillance and random, unpredictable patrols of

Woman Dies After Being Struck by Train

January 5, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — A 50-year-old woman from Kensington, Md., who was struck by a Red Line train at the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan Metrorail station at 11:36 p.m., on Monday, Jan. 4, died this morning, Tuesday, Jan. 5, as a result of her injuries. The Metro Transit Police continue to investigate, but preliminary information shows that the woman intentionally placed herself in the path of the train. She was hit by a six-car train traveling toward Shady Grove.

Metro Transit Police Arrest Man for Pushing a Minor into the side of a Moving Train

December 30, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) arrested Jarrell Thompson, Jr., on Dec. 29 and charged him with aggravated assault for pushing another young man into the side of a Red Line train at the Gallery Pl-Chinatown Metrorail station last month. Thompson, 18, from Southeast Washington, could receive up to 15 years in prison. He is in custody in the District of Columbia. The incident occurred at 3:35 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30 as the train was coming into the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metrorail station. The train was headed in the direction of Shady Grove. The investigation indicated that the