NTSB says DC train signaling system had problems for 5 days before deadly crash

September 22nd, 2009 NTSB issues safety recommendations to MetroWASHINGTON — Transit lines and railroads that use the same signal system that failed to detect a stopped train in the area of a deadly Washington crash should check them to make sure they are working correctly, a federal safety board urged Tuesday. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was not ready to say what caused the June 22 crash that killed nine and injured 70 when a train hit another one stopped on the tracks.

July 23rd, 2009 NTSB: DC train system had chronic signal problemsWASHINGTON — The signaling system that detects a train on the tracks of Washington's transit system has been having problems for a year and a half in the area of a crash that killed nine, federal investigators said Thursday. The National Transportation Safety Board said records show the system on the track circuit had been intermittently malfunctioning, whether a train was present or not, since a piece of equipment was replaced in December 2007.

July 22nd, 2009 NTSB: Human error eyed as cause of SF train crashSAN FRANCISCO — Federal investigators say they are focusing on human error as the cause of a light-rail train crash in San Francisco that injured dozens of people after finding no indication of mechanical or systems failures. The National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday the operator of the San Francisco Municipal Railway train in Saturday's collision told investigators he blacked out before the crash.

July 22nd, 2009 Metro: 'Anomalies' found, but DC rail system safeWASHINGTON — The Washington Metro has found at least six spots where signaling equipment designed to detect the presence of trains on the tracks has malfunctioned since a fatal crash last month. Metro says "anomalies" were found in six circuits other than the one at the crash site.

July 15th, 2009 DC's Metro signaling system still has problemsWASHINGTON — Federal investigators say the signaling system for Metro transit trains continues to fail periodically in the area of Washington, D.C., where a deadly train crash occurred. National Transportation Safety Board member Debbie Hersman told lawmakers Tuesday that investigators are replacing various pieces of equipment in an attempt to stop the problem near the Fort Totten station on Metro's red line.

July 15th, 2009 Metro signaling system continues to malfunctionWASHINGTON — Signaling equipment that is supposed to detect stopped Metro transit trains continues to fail periodically in the area where a deadly crash occurred in Washington, officials testified Tuesday. National Transportation Safety Board member Debbie Hersman told a House subcommittee that investigators are replacing various pieces of equipment in an attempt to stop the problem from occurring on a portion of the red line near the Maryland border.

July 9th, 2009 NTSB: No mechanical problems in Disney monorailORLANDO, Fla. — Federal investigators are focusing on why a switch failed to change positions in the monorail crash that killed an operator at Walt Disney World over the weekend.

June 30th, 2009 Metro: Trains to run manually possibly for yearWASHINGTON — Transit trains around the nation's capital could continue running manually for a year or more while Metro makes sure its automatic control system works properly following a deadly crash, the agency's general manager said Tuesday. Nine people were killed and more than 70 injured June 22 when a moving train slammed into another train stopped on the tracks near the Maryland state line.

June 26th, 2009 Memorial service set for operator in DC crashWASHINGTON — A memorial service will be held for the operator of a Washington Metro train involved in Monday's crash. Jeanice McMillan, 42, of Springfield, Va., was to be remembered Friday morning at the Temple of Praise Fellowship Hall in D.C.

June 26th, 2009 NTSB: Metro signal system didn't detect test trainWASHINGTON — The signaling system for the Washington-area transit agency failed to detect a test train stopped in the same place as one that was struck during a deadly crash this week, federal investigators said Thursday. The National Transportation Safety Board's test results indicate the oncoming train involved in Monday's crash that killed nine could have lacked information that another train was stopped on the tracks ahead.

June 26th, 2009 Metro superintendent reassigned following crashWASHINGTON — The Washington-area mass transit authority has temporarily reassigned the superintendent of the automatic control system that is supposed to prevent train crashes. Federal investigators said Thursday that Metro's signaling system failed to detect a test train stopped in the same place as one that was struck during a deadly crash this week.

June 25th, 2009 NTSB: D.C. signal system didn't detect test trainWASHINGTON — Investigators say a signaling system failed to detect a stopped commuter train during tests of the track where a deadly crash occurred this week in Washington, D.C. The National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday that the train control system lost detection of a test train that was stopped in the same place as the train that was struck on Monday.

June 24th, 2009 NTSB: Train stopped then started before crashWASHINGTON — Federal safety officials are investigating a passenger's statement that the Washington Metrorail train that struck another in a deadly accident stopped briefly then started again before the crash. National Transportation Safety Board investigators are interviewing surviving passengers on the trains involved in the accident that killed nine and injured more than 70 others.

June 23rd, 2009 NTSB: past subway train accidents raised concernsWASHINGTON — Past accidents on the Washington-area subway system raised concerns about the safety commuter trains that were not addressed, said a federal official investigating the cause of a deadly rush-hour crash that killed seven people Monday. "We know accidents are going to happen," but there must be a better system to prevent them said Debbie Hersman, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board.

May 10th, 2009 No mechanical problems seen in Mass. trolley crashBOSTON — A spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board says no mechanical problems have been found on a Boston train that crashed into another Friday, injuring about 50 people.