Problems with the reliability, reach or management of Metro’s various communications systems have been identified since 2010, according to the safety commission.
Even when safety problems are documented, Metro technicians who are responsible for inspecting and addressing the issues sometimes declare “no trouble found,” according to the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission audit. Some Metro supervisors have also resisted signing off on inspection forms “because they are unable to personally verify the work and fear possible future implications should a safety event occur,” the audit said.
The latest audit covers Metrorail’s voice and data communications systems — including radio, public address and emergency response systems — and looked at the training for workers who maintain those systems.In response to the safety commission’s findings, Metro cited progress on a major project to replace its radio infrastructure, as well as improvements in tracking the reliability of its communications systems.
A yard operator was trying to change instructions “for a Train Operator to prevent a head-on train collision,” but the train operator didn’t acknowledge the transmission, according to the audit. Both workers “reported experiencing problems understanding radio transmissions in the yard,” the audit said, but an inspection later indicated there was no trouble.There sometimes are gulfs in how communications issues are perceived, the audit showed.
“Some communications personnel suggested end users do not understand the limitations of WMATA’s radio system, and others suggested that a failure of the system to function should not always be considered a problem,” according to the audit. While some technicians said they tried to recreate problems described in work orders, “others just closed the ticket without any further action,” the audit said.
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