Two trains collide in DC

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Photos from the scene

Have they said what type of collision it was ? Was it two trains head on, rear ended or what ?
They really had to be moving fast to put one train almost over the top of the other like that.

From what I read and I posted earlier in this thread:

"Apparently, there was a train stopped at the station. One of the trains involved in the accident was stopped outside of the station to wait for its turn. The 3rd train just plowed into the back of the waiting train that was outside the station. The operator of the 3rd train is one of the four dead."

 

[Goosemaster]

:Q oh my. I just found out about this :Q

<--takes red line everyday at union station everyday.

Sadly I suspect the age of the system might be at fault since strange and random behavior is now a normal occurrence on the aging fleet (door issues, frequent delays on the orange line last year due to trains that skipped tracks, disabled trains on the orange line, weird braking issues, etc).

Poor people We usually have to put up with these issues (including the smell of burning brakes) regularly and I am sad to see that this escalated so far above the daily annoyances .

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Photos from the scene

Have they said what type of collision it was ? Was it two trains head on, rear ended or what ?
They really had to be moving fast to put one train almost over the top of the other like that.

Train A was at station while Train B was halted, waiting for Train A to depart. Train C collides with halted Train B (into read end). I think that is what happened.

I thought these things were computer controlled. If not, then either it was human error or a signaling problem.

 

[purbeast0]

anyone have any more details on this? i've seen reports on CNN and MSN and they don't confirm the following:

1. exactly what time it happened.
2. which direction the trains were going (out or in to DC)
3. between which stations.

one of my good friends takes the red line home from DC into maryland on the red line, and would be on the metro around the times that this happened. i've tried calling him 3 times since this happened and haven't heard anything back

my mom said she thinks it was trains going INTO DC, which they stated on TV reports, but i haven't read anything about that myself.

hopefully my friend is ok.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
:Q oh my. I just found out about this :Q

<--takes red line everyday at union station everyday.

Sadly I suspect the age of the system might be at fault since strange and random behavior is now a normal occurrence on the aging fleet (door issues, frequent delays on the orange line last year due to trains that skipped tracks, disabled trains on the orange line, weird braking issues, etc).

I travel the world and have never seen a metro as bad as that in Washington...and unfortunately it is good compared to many in the US.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

one of my good friends takes the red line home from DC into maryland on the red line, and would be on the metro around the times that this happened. i've tried calling him 3 times since this happened and haven't heard anything back

my mom said she thinks it was trains going INTO DC, which they stated on TV reports, but i haven't read anything about that myself.

hopefully my friend is ok.

best of luck

 

[Terzo]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Photos from the scene

Have they said what type of collision it was ? Was it two trains head on, rear ended or what ?
They really had to be moving fast to put one train almost over the top of the other like that.

According to this one train rear ended another. They also say that metro trains generally travel around 44 mph; I don't know if the train was traveling at this speed or was able to slow down at least a little.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
anyone have any more details on this? i've seen reports on CNN and MSN and they don't confirm the following:

1. exactly what time it happened.
2. which direction the trains were going (out or in to DC)
3. between which stations.

one of my good friends takes the red line home from DC into maryland on the red line, and would be on the metro around the times that this happened. i've tried calling him 3 times since this happened and haven't heard anything back

my mom said she thinks it was trains going INTO DC, which they stated on TV reports, but i haven't read anything about that myself.

hopefully my friend is ok.

Around 5:00 PM at the Takoma Park station in Maryland.

Direction appears to be northbound to MD.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
:Q oh my. I just found out about this :Q

<--takes red line everyday at union station everyday.

Sadly I suspect the age of the system might be at fault since strange and random behavior is now a normal occurrence on the aging fleet (door issues, frequent delays on the orange line last year due to trains that skipped tracks, disabled trains on the orange line, weird braking issues, etc).

I travel the world and have never seen a metro as bad as that in Washington...and unfortunately it is good compared to many in the US.

the metro itself is very clean and orderly but the actual mechanics of the trains are in pathetic shape. it's pretty obvious that when there are enough reports of doors not closing and disabled trains among other things MULTIPLE times per week that people ignore it, something's wrong.

I really hope this helps them get the funding that they so desperately need. annoyances are one thing but it's at another level now.

 

[Terzo]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
anyone have any more details on this? i've seen reports on CNN and MSN and they don't confirm the following:

1. exactly what time it happened.
2. which direction the trains were going (out or in to DC)
3. between which stations.

one of my good friends takes the red line home from DC into maryland on the red line, and would be on the metro around the times that this happened. i've tried calling him 3 times since this happened and haven't heard anything back

my mom said she thinks it was trains going INTO DC, which they stated on TV reports, but i haven't read anything about that myself.

hopefully my friend is ok.

According to metro...
1. 5 pm
2. The trains were heading towards shady grove, so into dc.
3. It doesn't say here, but I believe I read/heard on the radio that the collision occured between Takoma and Fort Toten.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
:Q oh my. I just found out about this :Q

<--takes red line everyday at union station everyday.

Sadly I suspect the age of the system might be at fault since strange and random behavior is now a normal occurrence on the aging fleet (door issues, frequent delays on the orange line last year due to trains that skipped tracks, disabled trains on the orange line, weird braking issues, etc).

I travel the world and have never seen a metro as bad as that in Washington...and unfortunately it is good compared to many in the US.

the metro itself is very clean and orderly but the actual mechanics of the trains are in pathetic shape. it's pretty obvious that when there are enough reports of doors not closing and disabled trains among other things MULTIPLE times per week that people ignore it, something's wrong.


I really hope this helps them get the funding that they so desperately need. annoyances are one thing but it's at another level now.

I think MD and VA need to get on board, pardon the pun. They seem to be the worst when it comes to consider funding. DC can't do it alone.

Edit: Perhaps stop the DC to Dulles project and instead fund new equipment.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
:Q oh my. I just found out about this :Q

<--takes red line everyday at union station everyday.

Sadly I suspect the age of the system might be at fault since strange and random behavior is now a normal occurrence on the aging fleet (door issues, frequent delays on the orange line last year due to trains that skipped tracks, disabled trains on the orange line, weird braking issues, etc).

I travel the world and have never seen a metro as bad as that in Washington...and unfortunately it is good compared to many in the US.

the metro itself is very clean and orderly but the actual mechanics of the trains are in pathetic shape. it's pretty obvious that when there are enough reports of doors not closing and disabled trains among other things MULTIPLE times per week that people ignore it, something's wrong.


I really hope this helps them get the funding that they so desperately need. annoyances are one thing but it's at another level now.

I think MD and VA need to get on board, pardon the pun. They seem to be the worst when it comes to consider funding. DC can't do it alone.

Edit: Perhaps stop the DC to Dulles project and instead fund new equipment.

we'll see. purple's all but been green-lit IIRC.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Photos from the scene

Have they said what type of collision it was ? Was it two trains head on, rear ended or what ?
They really had to be moving fast to put one train almost over the top of the other like that.

Train A was at station while Train B was halted, waiting for Train A to depart. Train C collides with halted Train B (into read end). I think that is what happened.

I thought these things were computer controlled. If not, then either it was human error or a signaling problem.

Not computer controlled. If it wasn't brake failure, then it was human error.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: kranky

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Photos from the scene

Have they said what type of collision it was ? Was it two trains head on, rear ended or what ?
They really had to be moving fast to put one train almost over the top of the other like that.

Train A was at station while Train B was halted, waiting for Train A to depart. Train C collides with halted Train B (into read end). I think that is what happened.

I thought these things were computer controlled. If not, then either it was human error or a signaling problem.

Not computer controlled. If it wasn't brake failure, then it was human error.

Either way, a very sad day!

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: Terzo
According to this one train rear ended another. They also say that metro trains generally travel around 44 mph; I don't know if the train was traveling at this speed or was able to slow down at least a little.

Hmm, the "cruise speed" on Metro (when it's traveling outside the city) feels faster than 44mph to me. I've been on trains that have passed slower freeway traffic (~55mph?). Hard to judge the speed when it's in the city and underground.

 

[MrChad]

Thankfully it was an inbound train, which is far less crowded than outbound trains during the afternoon rush. The red line is one of the Metro's busiest, but the situation could have been a lot worse had it been an outbound train.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: MrChad
Thankfully it was an inbound train, which is far less crowded than outbound trains during the afternoon rush. The red line is one of the Metro's busiest, but the situation could have been a lot worse had it been an outbound train.

Or god forbid the Orange line either. It's a can of Sardine's at that hour when heading out of Rosslyn.

 

[AmberClad]

Tuesday commute info if anyone intends to take the Red Line tomorrow.

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Or god forbid the Orange line either. It's a can of Sardine's at that hour when heading out of Rosslyn.

Tell me about it. I used to take the Orange Line as it passed through Rosslyn for my commute. I mainly remember trying to avoid staring at / breathing on the people a few inches from my face, and being contorted into various positions to try to grab a handhold on one of the poles :frown:.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
Tuesday commute info if anyone intends to take the Red Line tomorrow.

Thanks. I might just take the bus.

 

[OUCaptain]

Oh no

6 out of our fellow 304,059,724 americans died today.

per Common Courtesy, I will not make light of hte situation.

Seriously though, that sucks. my folks used to ride the trains into DC. They got held up at least once a month due to some stupid accident.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
Tuesday commute info if anyone intends to take the Red Line tomorrow.

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Or god forbid the Orange line either. It's a can of Sardine's at that hour when heading out of Rosslyn.

Tell me about it. I used to take the Orange Line as it passed through Rosslyn for my commute. I mainly remember trying to avoid staring at / breathing on the people a few inches from my face, and being contorted into various positions to try to grab a handhold on one of the poles :frown:.

Sometimes it's nice being 6'6".. and not a woman.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Or god forbid the Orange line either. It's a can of Sardine's at that hour when heading out of Rosslyn.

Tell me about it. I used to take the Orange Line as it passed through Rosslyn for my commute. I mainly remember trying to avoid staring at / breathing on the people a few inches from my face, and being contorted into various positions to try to grab a handhold on one of the poles :frown:.[/quote]

I regularly had to wait for other trains because the contortions were simply not enough. Everyday I'd see 1-3 trains JAM PACKED with people falling out of the doors or barely losing their bags as the doors nearly closed on them. Oh, and god forbid the A/C was off and the heat was ON during the summer. OMG that was so awful.

Right now the A/C seems to be broken at Metro Center so I have to walk through that sauna everyday and feel really bad for the folks that have to wait for trains there. Just the few minutes waiting for my train every afternoon is annoying as hell.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: AmberClad
Tuesday commute info if anyone intends to take the Red Line tomorrow.

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Or god forbid the Orange line either. It's a can of Sardine's at that hour when heading out of Rosslyn.

Tell me about it. I used to take the Orange Line as it passed through Rosslyn for my commute. I mainly remember trying to avoid staring at / breathing on the people a few inches from my face, and being contorted into various positions to try to grab a handhold on one of the poles :frown:.

Sometimes it's nice being 6'6".. and not a woman.

Doesn't matter. No one wins on Metro in the afternoon. People wouldn't see your face so they'd see that as a license to smush you even more.

 

[DannyBoy]

Originally posted by: Terzo

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Photos from the scene

Have they said what type of collision it was ? Was it two trains head on, rear ended or what ?
They really had to be moving fast to put one train almost over the top of the other like that.

According to this one train rear ended another. They also say that metro trains generally travel around 44 mph; I don't know if the train was traveling at this speed or was able to slow down at least a little.

Average speeds are usually slightly lower, could have been a lot worse if it was a high speed train.