Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) A report by the National Transportation Safety Board finds the tracks where a train derailed at the East Falls Church Metro station last week were two inches farther apart than they were supposed to be because the ties that hold the rails in place were missing or disintegrating. Also, track inspections were only being done once a month, instead of twice a week as required.
“How does this continue to happen? Where is the breakdown that these safety issues that seem so simple to solve are not being solved?” said Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority board chair Jack Evans.
He said WMATA’s General Manager Paul Wiedefeld has made it clear to employees that it’s crucial for them to do their jobs properly. Wiedefeld held a meeting for all managers Wednesday. The press was not allowed inside, but afterwards employees told reporters Wiedefeld emphasized that safety is their absolute top priority.
Evans has many questions, including whether missing rail ties can be spotted by a casual observer, and whether track inspectors knew about the track problems before the July 29 derailment.
“If we find out that people were negligent in their job, then I would fire them, but again its the general manager’s decision not the Board’s decision,” Jack stated.
After the derailment, the East Falls Church station was closed for almost three days so crews could replace 200 wooden cross ties and 350 feet of rail, including 150 feet of the electrified third rail.
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(File Photo: Heather Curtis)
