US News

Train in Washington crash was to be replaced 13 years back (Roundup)

Jun 23, 2009, 17:36 GMT

Washington - The Washington subway train that crashed into another train during rush hour Monday was part of an old fleet that safety investigators had recommended for replacement at least 13 years ago. The Washington Metropolitan Transit Administration (WMTA) said Tuesday that nine people were killed in the crash, the deadliest in the Washington subway system's 33-year history. The mayor's office said seven people died and more than 70 were injured. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the federal agency that investigates all fatal aviation and rail accidents, said that WMTA had been told to improve its trains' crash-worthiness after an accident in 1996 in which a driver died. The board had cautioned WMTA that some cars would crumple in a crash, similar to what happened in 1996, NTSB member Debbie Hersman said Tuesday. The 1000 Series carriages involved in the crash are more than 30 years old. WMTA, which runs the second-largest transit system in the United States after New York, has 290 of these cars. Apart from failing to replace old carriages, WMTA also didn't follow the board's recommendations to install data recorders on all trains to monitor speed and braking. In Monday's crash, one train had nine recorders, while the other had none. Hersman said the recorders would be retrieved as they would provide information on speed and other operations. On Monday, a train that had stopped between stations was hit from behind by a second train at about 5 pm (2100 GMT), just inside Washington, near the Maryland state line. Both trains were inbound from the suburbs into the city during the evening rush hour and apparently not filled to capacity. A similar collision of outbound trains packed with commuters at that hour could have produced a far higher death toll. 'The scene is as horrific as you can imagine,' Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty said. Few details about the deceased have been released as the mayor's office was in the process of contacting families on Tuesday. The driver of one of the trains, Jeanice McMillan, 42, was among the dead. Her cabin was obliterated when her train struck a stationary one. The force of the collision tore the floor out of the moving train's front car as it vaulted onto the stopped carriage. Fenty told broadcaster CNN that one car was 'about 75 per cent compressed.' Recovery workers had been unable to ascertain whether there were any bodies inside. 'We just haven't been able to cut through it to see if there's bodies in there,' he said. Passengers interviewed said they had never seen so much blood. Other survivors spoke of helping fellow passengers with injured legs, arms and backs. John Catoe, chief of WMTA - the multi-jurisdictional agency that runs the Metro train and bus system in Washington and adjoining suburbs in Maryland and Virginia - said he was 'extremely saddened' by the fatalities. 'We will get to the bottom and find out what happened,' he said.

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SP4: this is Government RailwayJun 23rd, 2009 - 17:54:49

..now ask yourselves about the viability of Government Motors (GM)

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Ask yourselvesJun 23rd, 2009 - 19:54:16

why SP4 hasn't died from terminal stupidity.

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DJun 23rd, 2009 - 22:26:16

Don't be too harsh on SP4,the outside world is too complicated for him,so he constructs his own version of it :Bush GOOD,Obama BAD,always !!!Keep it simple.

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tonny from belgiumJun 23rd, 2009 - 22:42:08

this is Government RailwayJun 23rd, 2009 - 17:54:49

..now ask yourselves about the viability of Government Motors (GM)....
sure ,you are right SP4, of course of course...now we need your expertise on the Titanic.

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SP4: All Aboard, TonnyJun 23rd, 2009 - 23:56:10

what a surprise...you show up whenever this man in the not-so white house has a glaringly weak moment...relax, neocons don't blame him for what he's truely not responsible for, unlike the libnazi elite....

This President IS sailing the Titanic now...$50 Billion with zero to show for it, ruined dealers in 50 states, with zero to show for it, all to prop up his whining constituancy. In my home town, Chevy owners are now required to drive 50 miles of two lane road to get warranty and service, after almost 80 years of loyal representation from a pillar of the community who donated millions to local charities, leaving No other GM outlet for the fifth largest retail region in Oregon, hundreds of miles from any other source. You know, that sounds a lot like Euro health care, now that I read it...

Now, run and ask the loyal GM owners, people like me, who they're getting their next car from...take a guess Tonny. It won't be Government Motors.

It is shaping up to be another 'Amtrak' Tonny, complete with the cars off the rails. Now run along, Tonny, and inform yourself.

Bon Voyage'!

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Hey, Sh*thead4Jun 24th, 2009 - 01:48:54

This story is about a train wreck, not GM - which is still privately owned, or the wreck of what used to be your brain or your drug distorted view of reality. Stay on topic, dickhead.

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SP4: really...Jun 24th, 2009 - 14:11:28

NSTA...WMTA....what part of 'public' do you not understand?

Don't go away mad, but you're welcome to just go away.

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??Jun 24th, 2009 - 14:55:18

Is this SP character a plant from M&C to keep everyone riled up?

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SP4:It's worse than thatJun 24th, 2009 - 15:16:35

I do it for free.

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??Jun 24th, 2009 - 17:52:25

Wow - sorry I asked. Just a little over the top with the crude remarks - don't stoop to someone else's level.

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Sh*t Pile #4 saysJun 25th, 2009 - 04:36:57

'Don't go away mad, but you're welcome to just go away.'

Not going to please you, sh*t pile. I'm going to stay. You can f*ck off.

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P.T.Jun 25th, 2009 - 18:30:58

Too bad when a person can't express themselves intelligently without the major part of the comment laced with disguised profanity. Kinda makes them look a little like a loser.

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