WMATA - Emergency closed doors Board meeting Jan. 15, 2023

[JDC]

We don't know much yet, at least officially, about what was discussed. But this NBC News 4 article gives us some hints, and Adam Tuss tweeted a few other pieces, too. https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/loca ... g/3255388/ and https://twitter.com/AdamTuss/status/161 ... jnst8-4QTw

[RandallW]

A briefing on the meeting is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfllxIsPZvc

Apparently the WMSC issued a directive just before COB Friday that pulls 64 train operators because they received too much supervised revenue time operating trains as part of their training on the 7000 series trains, and not enough non-revenue time operating those trains after WMATA publicly revealed the mistake. This boils down to WMSC seems to (to the WMATA BoD) to be attempting to operate WMATA instead of providing safety oversight while letting WMATA operate a railroad.

[STrRedWolf]

Going through the video...

• Blue, Orange, and Silver line is now at 25 min head ways, for a few more months, due to below.
• 50+ operators pulled, having to top off non-operation hours.
• WMATA adjusted the in-vehicle training in consultation (but not full notfication) with WMSC. Supposedly no requirement to notify WMSC, but WMATA admits to lack of documentation and should have notified WMSC.
• WMATA is reducing service to get enough trains to get those operators certified in WMSC's eye.
• WMATA is petitioning an appeal on the yanking of staff and the hold on 7K trains.
• WMATA feels the WMSC isn't holding up their end of the bargain on getting 7K trains going.
• Because the 7K trains aren't being allowed to run, WMATA has a shortage for use on training, and has missed deadlines because of it.
• WMATA thinks the WMSC is confusing regular training with line familiarization training, making WMATA at loggerheads against WMSC.
• A ton of line familiarization issues are due to Automatic Train Operation being turned off.
• There are no documented cases of wheel movement on the 7Ks.
• WMATA Engineers are being cautious over the 7Ks.
• WMATA is wondering why WMSC dictates seem to conflict with previous dictates and agreements.

That said, WTOP reported on an update to this: https://wtop.com/tracking-metro-24-7/20 ... -training/

Metro said Monday afternoon it will not reduce service Tuesday, after its safety watchdog agreed to give the transit agency more time to address a dispute over training for rail operators...

Safety commission spokesman Max Smith said the stay allows Metro more time to turn over a list of rail operators who were certified despite not meeting the agency’s training requirements, as well as documents showing that the agency has retooled its training procedures as officials claimed during a public briefing on Monday.

The new deadline is Jan. 24.

[JDC]

A big ol pissing contest mixed with a clown show