WMATA - 3000-series train collision on Oct. 7, 2019

Breaking:

Per WMATA, "Metro is investigating an overnight rear-end collision involving two out-of-service trains that were in the process of being moved to their respective rail yards. The incident occurred at approximately 12:54 a.m. between Foggy Bottom and Farragut West stations. The trains, each comprised of six 3000-series cars, were traveling in the same direction (eastbound) on the same track. There were no passengers aboard either train."

Metro service is currently operating at 15-minute intervals during morning rush hour to accommodate the investigation.

https://www.wmata.com/about/news/farw-1 ... in-content

The train operator was treated at the hospital for non-life threating injuries

Metro notified the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission and the National Transportation Safety Board as required.

The only way I can see this happening is if the automatic block signaling has failed....

Initial rumors have it suggesting operator fault as the signaling system was fully functional at the time

How did the operator override the ATO? (I think it's ATO; I mix up the TLA's)

My memory is overriding the low-level protection requires breaking a witness wire and then you were limited to ?15? mph.

No need to cut seals to operate under 15 MPH in manual mode. Speed commands are not transmitted in yards or on yard leads.

Metro has posted its preliminary findings. https://www.wmata.com/about/news/farw-2.cfm

Takeaway: "While Metro has not yet identified the root cause of the incident, investigators have found no evidence of a signal system failure and have ruled out “loss of shunt” as a cause. Data analysis shows that all trains in the area were properly detected by the signal system, and appropriate speed commands were sent to the trains to maintain safe spacing."

NOW it gets interesting. If not loss of shunt, then what?

Failure to maintain situational awareness.

But I thought the block system prohibited ANY movement into an occupied block, UNLESS the override with witness wire was invoked; and then it was limited to a crawl.

There are seals on circuit breakers that disable various automatic train protection subsystem. One of them disables over speed protection, When enabled trains are restricted to no more then 15 MPH when no speed commands are present.

WMSC tweeted out that the operator moved the train under a zero speed command. That train operator is getting sh*tcanned

YOLO wrote: ↑Tue Oct 08, 2019 2:18 pm WMSC tweeted out that the operator moved the train under a zero speed command. That train operator is getting sh*tcanned

How fast was he going at the time of the crash?

Reported speed was 11mph

YOLO wrote: ↑Tue Oct 08, 2019 6:16 pm Reported speed was 11mph

At 11 mph, he couldn't see the other train in time to stop?