Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


5

Feds Had Told DC to Bench Crashed Train

Share

(AP) – The subway train that plowed into another stopped train yesterday, killing nine people and injuring scores of others in Washington, was part of an aging fleet that federal officials had sought to phase out because of safety concerns, an investigator said today. The Metrorail transit system kept the old trains running despite warnings in 2006, Debbie Hersman of the National Transportation Safety Board said.

Hersman says the NTSB had warned of safety problems and recommended the old fleet be phased out or retrofitted to help cars better withstand a crash. Neither was done, she said, which the NTSB considered "unacceptable." The Metro's general manager said the agency expected to receive proposals "over the next month or so" to replace the old cars, but new trains were still years away from being installed.  

Investigators and officials continue to work at the scene of a rush-hour collision between two Metro transit trains in northeast Washington today.
Investigators and officials continue to work at the scene of a rush-hour collision between two Metro transit trains in northeast Washington today.   (AP Photo)
Investigators and officials continue to work at the scene of a rush-hour collision between two Metro transit trains in northeast Washington today.
Investigators and officials continue to work at the scene of a rush-hour collision between two Metro transit trains in northeast Washington today.   (AP Photo)
Tijuana Cox, who was injured in yesterday's collision of two Metro transit trains in northeast Washington, stands near the scene early today.
Tijuana Cox, who was injured in yesterday's collision of two Metro transit trains in northeast Washington, stands near the scene early today.   (AP Photo)
Investigators and officials continue to work at the scene of a rush-hour collision between two Metro transit trains in northeast Washington today.
Investigators and officials continue to work at the scene of a rush-hour collision between two Metro transit trains in northeast Washington today.   (AP Photo)
Investigators and officials look over the collision scene of two Metro transit trains in Northeast Washington today.
Investigators and officials look over the collision scene of two Metro transit trains in Northeast Washington today.   (AP Photo)
Investigators and officials look over the collision scene of two Metro transit trains in northeast Washington today.
Investigators and officials look over the collision scene of two Metro transit trains in northeast Washington today.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
11.19.09
Sarah Palin Deserves Some More Attention
5 comments
VIEWING:
 
kokuaguy
Jun 23, 09 1:03 PM CDT
Like Michael Moore said, a rational society would spend the money to turn those defunct GM manufacturing plants into factories producing things such as state of the art mass transit systems. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
IN RESPONSE:
Mr.C
Jun 23, 09 1:33 PM CDT
are you really quoting Michael Moore?
Vote up! Vote down!
-2
IN RESPONSE:
Newser001
Jun 23, 09 2:52 PM CDT
Moore actually makes a lot of sense, in his own cynical way.
Vote up! Vote down!
0
SPH
Jun 23, 09 10:16 PM CDT
Nine dead...scores hurt..Mr. C do you really think it a bad idea just because you don't like the source...Very typical of closed mind fools such as yourself.... Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
radnip
Jun 26, 09 11:14 AM CDT
Let's see: Bonuses to well-paid executives. New trains/infrastructure for Americans. .... Boy, that's tough. Those executives will whine a lot... Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

11 Stories

(Newser) - The National Transportation Board's view of the events that caused last weekend's crash over the Hudson River doesn't jibe with the FAA's, the Wall Street Journal reports. The NTSB chronology released yesterday suggests that errors from air traffic controllers—one of whom was one the phone to his girlfriend at... More »

MORE ABOUT:
FAA • plane crash • NTSB • Hudson River • air traffic control • air traffic controllers • National Transportation Safety Board • helicopter crash • midair collision

 Tax Deal Derailed 
 DC Train Upgrade 

Outlawed tax shelter scheme blamed for lack of modern safety features

Jun 26, 09 6:17 AM CDT
(Newser) - Safer cars might have saved lives in Monday's DC train crash, but a tax-dodge deal made with a bank prevented the transit authority from replacing aging stock until 2014, the Wall Street Journal reports. The National Transportation Safety Board urged the authority years ago to either replace its older cars... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Washington DC • Washington Metro • tax breaks • train crash • tax shelter

 Circuit Flaw 
 Suspected 
 in DC Crash 

Electronic 'anomalies' found, markings indicated driver hit emergency brakes

Jun 25, 09 2:22 AM CDT
(Newser) - Federal investigators believe an electronic problem may have caused Monday's deadly train crash in Washington DC, the Washington Post reports. Teesting has uncovered "anomalies" in a section of the Metro's automated control system, which senses train locations and sends speed commands, according to investigators. More »

MORE ABOUT:
Washington DC • NTSB • Washington Metro • train crash • commuter train • subway accident

11 Stories

Copyright 2009 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.



US 
TwitterFollow @NewserUS on Twitter

 
subway • NTSB • Washington Metro • train crash • National Transportation Safety Board • Washington, DC • commuter train • subway accident

from our news partners