Roger Bowles

Event Review Launched for WMATA Off Platform Door Operations

At approximately 8:58AM EDT, on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, A Red Line train servicing the Rhode Island Av station experienced a door operation on the right side of the train, opposite of the platform. Information is preliminary and will be updated as our investigation proceeds

Preliminary Statement on WMATA Green Line Near Miss between Track Walkers and Train

At about 11:48am on Wednesday, April 5, 2017, there was a potential near miss between #WMATA track personnel and a train between West Hyattsville and PG Plaza stations. A group of track personnel were in the process of inspecting the track between PG Plaza and West Hyattsville. They had requested Foul Time protection while walkingContinueContinue reading “Preliminary Statement on WMATA Green Line Near Miss between Track Walkers and Train”

Lack of Intrusion Detection Warning System for WMATA Red Line Fence between Union Station Portal and Elevated Structure near Brentwood Yard

Problem: On the Red Line Right of Way with Amtrak, for approximately 5,600 feet along Track B1 from the Union Station portal to the elevated structure north of Brentwood Yard, there is no Intrusion Detection Warning (IDW) system at locations where both WMATA and Amtrak share the same corridor and come as close as ~16′ on trackContinueContinue reading “Lack of Intrusion Detection Warning System for WMATA Red Line Fence between Union Station Portal and Elevated Structure near Brentwood Yard”

Incident Summary on Incorrect Train Routing into SafeTrack Work Area, Resulting Temporary Suspension of Yellow Line Service on 3/21/17

Overview: Around 8am on March 21st, 2017, a non-revenue Yellow Line train departed Huntington station en route to Alexandria Yard. The train was allowed to traverse a switch outside Eisenhower Avenue station towards track which was deenergized due to SafeTrack Surge 13 activities. Yellow Line service to Eisenhower Avenue and Huntington stations was suspended forContinueContinue reading “Incident Summary on Incorrect Train Routing into SafeTrack Work Area, Resulting Temporary Suspension of Yellow Line Service on 3/21/17”

WMATA: Immediate Action Needed to Replace Porcelain Third Rail Insulators at Federal Triangle Station

For Immediate Action by WMATA: C-2017-01: Replacement of Porcelain Third Rail Insulators at Federal Triangle Station In May 2016, after two separate incidents of exploding porcelain third rail insulators at McPherson Square and Federal Center SW stations (Rail Transit OPS is also reviewing another unreported incident), WMATA’s General Manager ordered all porcelain insulators be replaced with fiberglass insulatorsContinueContinue reading “WMATA: Immediate Action Needed to Replace Porcelain Third Rail Insulators at Federal Triangle Station”