Thread by @STATter911

(1) @wmata tried to refute a July STATter911 story that it--once again--sent passengers toward danger, on an inspection that found smoke & fire. Today, @MetrorailSafety issued a report that confirms our story & shows #wmata's statements weren't true. (more) @knolkatie picture

(2) Here's @wmata's statement plus comments given to @justingeorge following the fire & explosions/arcing between Woodley Park & Dupont Circle. Despite its own rules prohibiting sending passengers on an inspection train, #wmata desperately tried to justify the action. (more)

(3) The rule that no passengers are supposed to be aboard any inspection train was announced in March of 2020 by the same spokesperson attempting to justify the actions during the July 30 Red Line incident. Here's a comparison:

(4) The @MetrorailSafety report makes clear--as STATter911 initially reported--@wmata sent passengers towards danger by ordering the inspection without first off-loading the train. This was also a key @NTSB finding in the 2015 L'Enfant Plaza fire that killed Carol Glover. (more)

(5) @MetrorailSafety also found--as @RailTransitOPS first reported--that once Train 108 discovered smoke & fire @wmata was slow in getting the train & its passengers to safety back at the Woodley Park Station. (more)

(6) As it has with many other rail emergencies, @MetrorailSafety found significant problems with @wmata's overall handling of the incident. There are also other parallels with the 2015 L'Enfant Plaza tragedy, including poor handling of fans. (more)

(7) @wmata provided misleading & flat out wrong info following this incident. It contradicted radio traffic & even ignored the fact the director of the Rail Operations Control Center issued a reminder about track inspections with passengers just hours after the incident. (more)

(8) This happened during @wmataGM's very first week. Let's hope he comes away from this realizing the timely release of factual information helps restore trust better than a knee-jerk defense that isn't candid. Read the @MetrorailSafety report here:
bit.ly/3H6xo2F