Unsuck DC Metro: B.S.

Friday, November 4, 2011

B.S.

So a DC cop chased down an armed perp on the Metro the other day and attempted to contact the operator via the emergency intercoms.

They didn't work.

Surprise, surprise!

The galling thing about this is a Metro Transit Police spokesperson had the balls to say they had not heard of intercom problems before.

Oh really?

What about:

Of course, Metro is looking into the issue.

Right.

Comments (11)

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+21 Vote up Vote down

inDCent · 698 weeks ago

This goes right along with their recent lack of alerts about delays (what delays?!) on twitter and their web page. Oh, and their recent statement that they handled the Rosslyn issue so well. WMATA is doing an exceptional job lately! Because they said so!

I can see Dan Stessel jedi-waving his hand in front of the cameras now, "these aren't the major issues you're looking for, move along now".

+5 Vote up Vote down

DC Denizen · 698 weeks ago

Can someone send this post to the WJLA reporter, Jennifer Donelan? I can't (blocked at work). Maybe she'd follow up if she knew the whole story.

2 replies · active 698 weeks ago

+7 Vote up Vote down

Andrea · 698 weeks ago

DC Denizen I sent it to her -- she and i worked together at WJLA :)

+2 Vote up Vote down

DC Denizen · 698 weeks ago

Thanks, Andrea!

+6 Vote up Vote down

UnSuck Fan · 698 weeks ago

Of course the Metro Transit Police spokesperson hadn't heard about the intercom problems because the Little Snot doesn't ride Metro, and is like all other WMATA spokespersons (or is it spokespeople); good for nothing but lip service!

0 Vote up Vote down

@davinpet · 698 weeks ago

Since Metro mixes their railcars, their could be compatibility problem with the newer and older models. The intercoms are most likely to broken in the 1000 series. I wonder if Metro had them checked when they rebuilt the 2000/3000 series cars.

2 replies · active 698 weeks ago

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@VeggieTart · 698 weeks ago

That IS the problem--compatibility. I believe I read that somewhere. And the reason they "sandwich" the older cars is it's one of the older cars that was involved in that June 2009 crash.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 698 weeks ago

Unfortunately for them, that doesn't mean they can use that excuse as a crutch for not ensuring the intercoms, which are supposed to be used for EMERGENCIES, are in proper working order. It's like saying "We didn't repair the guard rail next to a huge cliff because we couldn't find the same alloy series we used last time". That excuse doesn't help much when someone falls over the edge, just like it's not going to help much when something goes really wrong and people NEED to use that intercom.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 698 weeks ago

Similar security bus problems in Detroit - sound familiar? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45164397/ns/us_news-l...

+19 Vote up Vote down

Soylent Green Line · 698 weeks ago

They can't be expected to focus on small issues like this when they're busy working on the big issues like renaming the stations. Come on guys, be reasonable.

0 Vote up Vote down

David S. · 697 weeks ago

In my experience, the biggest problem with the intercoms is that the instructions posted on every single one of them are unclear. I've successfully been able to call the train operator by HOLDING DOWN (not simply pressing and releasing) the red button while speaking. The instructions say only to press the button, which implies (incorrectly, I believe) that pressing and quickly relasing it should be sufficient. I don't have a lot of experience testing this out, but has anyone else noticed that the intercom only works if you hold the red button down?