Non-revenue derailment at Smithsonian

[JackRussell]

It's about time. This is the most Metro has held themselves accountable for anything in at least a decade. Don't stop now Metro. There is plenty more dead weight to lop off from all levels, top to bottom.

Of course, lets not kid ourselves too much here. Had there been customers injured in this incident, Metro would be circling the wagons, pretending they did nothing wrong, making excuses, and loosely blaming customers for the incident. The only reason they're accepting blame in this incident is that there is nobody to sue them this time.

Any bloat in the agency is there because the board allowed it to accumulate and didn't do proper oversight. Speaking of which, they still need to hire a GM - not a peep about where they are in that process..

[MCL1981]

The whole board should go too. They're equally if not more useless.

Of course they haven't hired a GM. Who would want that job?!?!

[srepetsk]

The whole board should go too. They're equally if not more useless.

I disagree somewhat. Have you listened to Mr. Dormsjo question staff present at the meetings? He was only appointed in March 2015, but is already one of the most vocal critics regarding work thoroughness, safety, and public communication, just to name a few. I was at the board meeting on THursday and nobody else had anything that touched his level of questioning.

That said, there are certainly members that should go. Any board member making excuses for the agency at this point has no ground to stand on. The agency has been running from disaster to disaster for too many years now.

For all those who haven't, I would highly suggest listening to the board meeting audio: http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/board_ ... cfm?A=2455" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Mr. Dormsjo's questioning starts about 1 hour in.

[dcmike]

Not I, though I would love to see the documentation that lays this out...

Example: http://dms.ntsb.gov/public/47500-47999/47789/427536.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[srepetsk]

Not I, though I would love to see the documentation that lays this out...

Example: http://dms.ntsb.gov/public/47500-47999/47789/427536.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You are fantastic, thank you for this.

[YOLO]

VA/Fed board members are being light on the agency because they don't like conflict. They all need to get the boot, unfortunately the new people that VA would bring would still pretend Metro is fine and won't do anything.

Ever wonder if Dormsjo would make a good Metro GM?

[MCL1981]

They probably all start out as gung-ho go-getters. Give it a year. Even the new guy will be oblivious. Managerial stupidity is contagious, especially when it comes to politicians.

[JDC]

Lots of rail fastener renewal planned for this weekend's track work, including across the Yellow line bridge, which is going to be inspected, again. http://www.wmata.com/rider_tools/metro_ ... m?AID=5156

[MCL1981]

I am truly amazed there haven't been more similar derailments.

[Sand Box John]

"MCL1981"
I am truly amazed there haven't been more similar derailments.

You would be surprised how forgiving out of gauge track can be. The width of the tire on a Metrorail car wheel is nearly twice the width of the rail head.

A good amount of the lateral jarring movement you feel is the result of variations in track gauge.

[srepetsk]

Per today's board docs, no cars from the Smithsonian derailment are being scrapped. Two cars remain out of service - 1272 and 1273, presumably - and they expect to be using those again by January 2016. Cost to repair those and two other cars with minor damage is $177,000.