Unsuck DC Metro: Operator Attempts to Steer Herd

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Operator Attempts to Steer Herd

From Kristin:

A video I took today on the Orange Line. I've gotta hand it to the operator--people crowding into the last car, when they could just walk down the platform, drive me nuts, too.

I had gotten on at Eastern Market, headed toward Vienna. By the time we got to Federal Center, the operator was reminding everyone how many doors there are on the train and inviting boarders to use all of them. By L'Enfant, he was calling out people individually: "Sir with the large bag, please do not allow it to block the doors. If it doesn't fit, move to another car." By Smithsonian, where this video was taken,, he was on a roll.

I got off at Metro Center, and, as I was headed up the escalator, I simply heard *door chime* "SPREAD OUT." *door chime* "SPREAD OUT."

What can I say? I think I kind of like this guy.

Comments (26)

Logging you in...

Dashboard | Edit profile | Logout

Logged in as

-1 Vote up Vote down

Davy Crockett's Hat · 763 weeks ago

Personally I find this operator annoying. He loves the sound of his voice way too much.

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

-1 Vote up Vote down

@kara_h · 763 weeks ago

I agree ... the automaton, err, driver is more annoying than helpful.

If someone lives here: they *know* the doors usually close before you can rush to another train and wait in line there.

If someone is a tourist: of *course* they will clump together. Ever go with your family to another city?

In both cases, people are doing what metro wants: spreading out along the platform. For years, metro stopped in the middle of the platform. They have only been going to the far end for a little over a year. Any infrequent metro riders would not know things have changed.

-1 Vote up Vote down

@schwars1 · 763 weeks ago

I completely agree. If I get on a train with this guy (which has happened a dozen or so times) my ears cringe and I just want to sit on the train in peace and not be reminded over and over again that there "are 18 doors, 18 doors people, 18 doors on this train" among all of his other chatter.

+3 Vote up Vote down

Ever and Anon · 763 weeks ago

Annoying or not, sounds like this fellow had a good reason to keep talking. Naturally no one will listen. How bout the fellow drinking his pop on a system that says "no drinking?"

Wonder if the operator knew half of his "group" trouble was his own coworkers?

Loved his comment about when they arrive at the next station, there will be 18 doors opening. (Who knew?)

+2 Vote up Vote down

Aaaa · 763 weeks ago

Even after many months of the trains pulling up all the way to the end of the platform, there are still no signs to tell people to move to the front. This is especially disastrous at Gallery Place on the red line where people are naturally placed in an area where there won't be a train car to service them, necessitating a stampede to the front every time a train comes.

+9 Vote up Vote down

Devin · 763 weeks ago

This train operator is actually my favorite on Metro.

I have frequently ridden with him on the yellow line, and find his announcements to be both helpful and amusing. He seems to frequently point out the same common sense things that many riders appreciate, such as his announcement on this video that explains that all doors lead to the same platform. In the past, he's also called out people for standing on the left of the escalator or running on the platform.

I've ridden with this operator a lot on the weekend, and he usually has most passengers in fits of laughter within a couple of stops. He's great, and I wish more operators could offer his informative but humorous announcements. This is one train operator that I may actually miss when some of the announcements switch to a recorded voice on the 7000-series.

Personally, I think this guy deserves a raise.

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

Callie · 763 weeks ago

I agree. I wish MORE operators were like him. If you want to ride "in peace," take a bus. Kudos to this opearator.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Mike · 763 weeks ago

This guy cracks me up all the time. He's especially fun on Halloween.

+3 Vote up Vote down

Marty · 763 weeks ago

This guy sounds awesome, makes me wish I could be a train operator to bring laughter, smiles and order to the chaotic Metro system.

I do wish they'd finally implement the NTSB regulations or whatever it is so they can bring back ATC though. I miss the days of trains stopping in the middle of the platform and not coming to jerky standstills in the middle of the track.

+9 Vote up Vote down

greg · 763 weeks ago

I remember this guy from my morning commute on the yellow line before I moved into the city. He's one part annoying, 2 parts condescending and 4 parts hilariously awesome.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Ugh · 763 weeks ago

With all the union thugs lounging around Metro stations, couldn't we get a few of them to start walking up and down the platform to pull off door-blockers?

I guess not. They're still not checking for dead people at the end of the line.

+4 Vote up Vote down

DMCinDC · 763 weeks ago

This guy is more amusing about it than most metro operators who feel the need to be snippy and scold people like nannys. They sound like they just want to bitch about ~anything at all~.

+3 Vote up Vote down

Kevin · 763 weeks ago

In the video, I also love the backpack-a-saurus standing in the middle of the car with what looks like a refrigerator stuffed inside his backpack. I hate those people -- they should hit them in the face with a lumpy bag so they get a taste of their own medicine.

+1 Vote up Vote down

germaphobia · 763 weeks ago

And I love the woman in the bright orange top who rubs her hand all over her mouth and nose before grabbing onto the pole. yuck!

+2 Vote up Vote down

Metro Makes me Mad · 763 weeks ago

I love how he says "where 18 doors should be opening on the left side." He knows the problems that plague the system as well as we do.

+3 Vote up Vote down

anna · 763 weeks ago

This guy often drives the train leaving from Vienna a little bit after 8:30. He's kind of the silver lining on my "damn I'm going to be so late to work today" cloud.

+1 Vote up Vote down

SnoopySnails · 763 weeks ago

If he loves the sound of his own voice, he should -- he's got a great voice! And I'm impressed that you can hear what he's saying so clearly in this video.

When it comes to the Metro, you can't remind people of common sense things -- like the fact that there are 18 doors and all of them open onto the same platform -- often enough.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Patrick · 763 weeks ago

At least you can understand his announcements, unlike the vast majority of operators in the system. Most of the time all you get is "[click] Atentionmmnmnmnnnrnnrmrnrnnmmm. [click]", leaving you with no idea if the driver just announced the next station, that the train would be going out of service, or if there is another train on the same track heading towards you at 50 MPH - all just about as likely a scenario as the others.

0 Vote up Vote down

Kat · 763 weeks ago

This guy is one of my favorites! Whenever I have him, it improves my trip home.

+2 Vote up Vote down

sirenlog8 · 763 weeks ago

This is an upgrade from "mfmmfmmfmmfmm delay mmffohhfhhppjh metro."

0 Vote up Vote down

king friday xiii · 763 weeks ago

Me likey:

1. He's audible. BIG PLUS.

2. He's to the point, but in a polite sort of way. HUGE PLUS.

3. He explains it so even the dumbest of metro riders/tourists can think it through. MASSIVE BONER PLUS.

+3 Vote up Vote down

Grace · 763 weeks ago

I can understand why some people might find him annoying, but I would prefer this to what we usually get from Metro operators. He was being a little condescending, yes (though the people he was calling out totally deserve it, IMO), but he wasn't being rude or angry like so many of the drivers. There was a female driver at Glenmont today when I arrived at the end of my afternoon commute who announced that her train was going out of service and told everyone to please exit the train. Barely 20 seconds later, she made a second announcement: "This train is out of service! This train is OUT OF SERVICE. Please EXIT THE TRAIN, NOW!" This entire announcement was shouted through the PA system in a very whiny tone. I would much prefer riding with the operator in the video than riding with that woman.

-2 Vote up Vote down

anon · 763 weeks ago

"Sir with the large bag, please do not allow it to block the doors. If it doesn't fit, move to another car."

Does it even occur to him why people might not want to do this? We get what feels like two seconds to get on the train. There's a limited window of opportunity here! There is never enough time to leave one car and reenter the train on another car. The damn chimes ring before you're halfway there, and this guy's supposed to lug his big bag to another car and risk not being able to get back on? I wouldn't blame him for not wanting to leave the car if he can fit on it. IF, anyway. (He might be better off disembarking and getting on the next train.)

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

0 Vote up Vote down

Patrick · 763 weeks ago

Actually, he'd be "better off" finding some way to get around that didn't involve Metro.

Just saying...

0 Vote up Vote down

Angry Metro Rider · 763 weeks ago

In most places in the world that's worth half a damn, they actually paint the exact places where the doors will open and where the train will stop. But DC metro doesn't do this so it's a bit of a mystery. The fact that it's also inconsistent doesn't help much at all.
So dear smart-ass metro driver, why don't you guys do your job right so this sort of thing doesn't happen?

0 Vote up Vote down

marshall · 757 weeks ago

This guy is the one and only good thing about the entire Metro system. I'd say on a given day, about 2/3 of my rage is directed at the Metro itself. The rest is saved for all of the idiots who seem to have left their common sense and manners at home. Kudos to this guy for calling them out for it!