tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post2106549430965534770..comments2023-10-30T11:47:53.134-04:00Comments on why.i.hate.dc: NTSB issues safety advisory, WMATA admits sensors still brokenDave Strouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12284013068083846700noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post-75235385548034818982010-02-21T18:02:00.461-05:002010-02-21T18:02:00.461-05:00As far as WMATA is concerned, safety is a big joke...As far as WMATA is concerned, safety is a big joke. They've proven it with their attitude to escalator safety (see <a href="http://www.scn.org/~bk269/escalators.html" rel="nofollow">Metro's Cavalier Attitude Toward Escalator Safety"</a>).<br /><br />Next time on one of their escalators, look for the (non-existent) 2-inch bright yellow edge markings on the steps.<br /><br />- skoozemeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post-686375117760783652009-07-14T13:10:19.071-04:002009-07-14T13:10:19.071-04:00This whole thing is so mind bogglingly retarded.
...This whole thing is so mind bogglingly retarded.<br /><br />So a whole block of sensors fails. Why would you think 50 sensors failed simultaneously and replace them all, instead of the much more logical assumption that SOMETHING ELSE failed and the sensors are no longer connected to the system?<br /><br />Similarly, nobody seems to be able to explain why ANY component of a system involving sensors that report data to a central computer can fail without anyone knowing.<br /><br />If someone chops off my finger, I may not be able to feel anything with it any more. But the fact that I NO LONGER FEEL ANYTHING is a damn good clue that my finger is gone!<br /><br />The fact that Metro's system is not designed to react when sensors stop transmitting data is, frankly, insane. And upgrading the software to, say, turn on a red light if any sensor has not reported in for a good 30 seconds or so ought to be pretty fucking simple.<br /><br />Crazy. My goddamn lawnmower has better diagnostics than Metro.Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04089108417465569092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post-67414341576091720612009-07-14T13:07:21.706-04:002009-07-14T13:07:21.706-04:00This blog used to be a lot more fun.This blog used to be a lot more fun.Oscarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05419789519951448607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post-29534880528471367142009-07-14T10:10:17.842-04:002009-07-14T10:10:17.842-04:00I'd just like to hear a little more about what...I'd just like to hear a little more about what WMATA did following the 2005 incident. If it wasn't at all related, I'm still curious what would have caused a near accident.Dave Strouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12284013068083846700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post-36533975254163464522009-07-14T10:05:22.208-04:002009-07-14T10:05:22.208-04:00i'm not downplaying anything. I'll repeat...i'm not downplaying anything. I'll repeat, if the NTSB thought that near collision was relevant to the ongoing red line investigation, they would have said so and could have done so regardless of their authority over metro and regardless of their involvement in that 2005 investigation.<br /><br />There were no results released of the investigation following the 2005 incident, so you already have an answer to your questions. With that, I'll repeat again, in the absence of any such information, the NTSB's statement that there was no evidence to suggest that Metro was aware of the track circuit problem before the accident is factually correct and accurate. i can't say it's impossible the 2005 incident and 2009 aren't related, but possibility isn't evidence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post-71008409083485108802009-07-14T09:32:35.504-04:002009-07-14T09:32:35.504-04:00The NTSB has absolutely no authority over WMATA, t...The NTSB has absolutely no authority over WMATA, though, it's not a regulatory agency. I'm sure someone at NTSB has heard about the incident, but unless the NTSB was involved in the investigation (which it appears they were not) then they aren't likely to comment on it.<br /><br />Why do you try to downplay the 2005 incident? If Metro had a better track record of implementing changes after accidents, then perhaps I could see your side of the argument.<br /><br />What's wrong with asking this question:<br /><br />What were the results of the investigation following the 2005 incident? AND<br /><br />Was that failure related to the 2009 failure?<br /><br />AND<br /><br />If a train had previously disappeared from the system, forcing an operator to use the emergency brake, why was the 2009 incident called unexpected and a freak occurrence?Dave Strouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12284013068083846700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post-32126462644094825362009-07-14T08:51:48.030-04:002009-07-14T08:51:48.030-04:00you're not confident the NTSB knew about the 2...you're not confident the NTSB knew about the 2005 incident? come on dave, you were making a convincing argument and i was just beginning to respect you. You're better than such a weak and ridiculous statement. NTSB isn't omnipresent, but they do read the washington post, every federal agency has lots of people, usually in their public affairs division who read the newspapers as part of their official responsibilities. It's also kind of disturbing that you think the metroopensdoors blogger is more reliable than the NTSB.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post-71688303771159237562009-07-14T08:33:28.692-04:002009-07-14T08:33:28.692-04:00I'm not confident the NTSB even knows the 2005...I'm not confident the NTSB even knows the 2005 incident occurred. They aren't omnipresent.<br /><br />Maybe the "metroopensdoors" blogger account can come here and answer whether the 2005 incident is related to the 2009 crash.Dave Strouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12284013068083846700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post-35949056059969263982009-07-14T08:27:19.433-04:002009-07-14T08:27:19.433-04:00I keep "harping" on this because the fac...I keep "harping" on this because the fact there was no evidence to suggest that Metro was aware of the track circuit problem before the accident is a significant point that you don't seem willing to accept. Metro doesn't have to cover up anything. It's the NTSB saying there was no evidence to suggest that Metro was aware of the track circuit problem before the accident. If the NTSB thought that near collision was relevant to the ongoing red line investigation, they would have said so. otherwise, i don't see how it's possible to comment on "nothing."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post-77026594932475730612009-07-13T22:57:01.881-04:002009-07-13T22:57:01.881-04:00I don't know why you keep harping on this.
So...I don't know why you keep harping on this.<br /><br />So it's better to cover up anything that happens so that later you can deny it?<br /><br />Somedays I think you are John Catoe with a pseudonym. If the 2005 incident was 'nothing' than why not comment on it?<br /><br />You really believe that WMATA isn't in ass covering mode?Dave Strouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12284013068083846700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post-18026792874212555872009-07-13T22:26:47.458-04:002009-07-13T22:26:47.458-04:00exactly. no information has been released about t...exactly. no information has been released about that incident. in the absence of any such information, the NTSB's statement that there was no evidence to suggest that Metro was aware of the track circuit problem before the accident is factually correct and accurate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post-47677106714171166102009-07-13T22:18:48.353-04:002009-07-13T22:18:48.353-04:00"Metro officials were stunned by the events, ..."Metro officials were stunned by the events, which they said at the time had not happened before, and launched an investigation. It was unclear last night whether they ever found a cause."<br /><br />It's still unclear. No information has been released about that incident. I wouldn't doubt that the NTSB doesn't have any information about it either, since the NTSB did not investigate that incident. I would expect the NTSB to say they can't comment on that because they were not involved in it.<br /><br />WMATA is not talking about this incident, and no one is asking any questions about it. WMATA has said that no one could have expected a train to disappear, that it was a "freak occurrence." How can it be a freak occurrence if it happened in 2005?<br /><br />Either the Washington Post has bad information, or WMATA doesn't want to talk about what happened in 2005 because it could prove negligence in the 2009 accident.Dave Strouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12284013068083846700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post-22108140846768757302009-07-13T21:09:30.003-04:002009-07-13T21:09:30.003-04:00i'll repeat, show me where it says that near c...i'll repeat, show me where it says that near collision was ignored. If the NTSB thought that near collision was relevant to the ongoing red line investigation, why didn't they say so?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post-84580534642700218212009-07-13T21:06:19.283-04:002009-07-13T21:06:19.283-04:00http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic...http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/23/AR2009062301698.html?hpid=topnews<br /><br />But four years ago, in an episode eerily similar to yesterday's, the signal system briefly failed in the tunnel between Foggy Bottom and Rosslyn, forcing two quick-thinking operators to stop their trains manually to avoid a crash.<br /><br />In the June 2005 incident, the operator of one train noticed that he was getting too close to the train ahead. The signal system was telling him the track was clear, but he hit the brakes. The operator of a third train on the line hit the emergency brakes on time, too.<br /><br />Metro officials were stunned by the events, which they said at the time had not happened before, and launched an investigation. It was unclear last night whether they ever found a cause.Dave Strouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12284013068083846700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post-15440168436347451392009-07-13T21:00:32.130-04:002009-07-13T21:00:32.130-04:00show me in the article where it says that near col...show me in the article where it says that near collision was ignored.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post-5743540874175868922009-07-13T20:48:30.675-04:002009-07-13T20:48:30.675-04:00That ignores the prior incident between Rosslyn an...That ignores the prior incident between Rosslyn and Foggy Bottom where two trains nearly collided. Metro has not released any information about that.Dave Strouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12284013068083846700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216647.post-78251541798101137812009-07-13T20:45:38.747-04:002009-07-13T20:45:38.747-04:00your questions 1 and 2 were already answered if yo...your questions 1 and 2 were already answered if you had read the washington post article more carefully.<br /><br />"Metro officials have said they detected the track circuit failure only after the accident. The safety board said there was no evidence to suggest that Metro was aware of the track circuit problem before the accident."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com