Unsuck DC Metro: Wrong Side Doors--Again

Monday, January 14, 2013

Wrong Side Doors--Again

This post has been altered. The poster of the above tweet wanted their name removed. I have replaced with a screen shot.

@katjskiles @spangspang @unsuckdcmetro @fixwmata @wmata Also on train this eve w doors opening wrong side at L'Enfant - unacceptable
— Sarah Rovito (@smr32) January 12, 2013

Comments (24)

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+10 Vote up Vote down

jbendavis 69p · 640 weeks ago

The doors opened on the right side eventually, didn't they?
You're welcome!

+28 Vote up Vote down

@FixWMATA · 640 weeks ago

One man's wrong-side door opening is another man's electrifying experience?

1 reply · active 640 weeks ago

+3 Vote up Vote down

dezlboy 76p · 640 weeks ago

+1000 ROFL. thanks!

+4 Vote up Vote down

Metro Marketing · 640 weeks ago

Relax and enjoy the view!

+14 Vote up Vote down

Ever Anon · 640 weeks ago

Watch that first step. It's a doozy.

1 reply · active 640 weeks ago

+5 Vote up Vote down

@ChrisHowdy · 640 weeks ago

You couldn't have chosen a more apt film to quote.

+9 Vote up Vote down

stupidraidersfan 80p · 640 weeks ago

Someone's not following the 5 second rule.

+2 Vote up Vote down

guest · 640 weeks ago

NPR said this morning that Sarles is going to be on the Kojo Naamdi (sp?) show at noon today, if anyone has time to listen.....

2 replies · active 640 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

Ryan · 640 weeks ago

Thanks, man. I love Kojo! Will definitely be tuning in today.

0 Vote up Vote down

guest · 640 weeks ago

some very good questions on here. especially the one about being charged $2 for the single farecard.
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2013-01-14/met...

+2 Vote up Vote down

jkuchen · 640 weeks ago

Is this part of the change that someone has been championing?

+4 Vote up Vote down

Bob · 640 weeks ago

How is that even possible????
1) Isn't there a sensor and interlock that will only allow the operator to open the doors when there is a platform on that side of the train?
2) Lets say the interlock is broken (shocking, I know), the operator would have to be asleep to no notice this before pushing the button.

2 replies · active 640 weeks ago

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Guest · 640 weeks ago

Metro being metro, I would speculate that they weren't able to keep the system for automatically sensing "there's a platform there, it's okay to open the doors" working (because when have they ever kept ANYTHING working?), so they had to disable/bypass it rather than deal with an unacceptably high rate of trains not being able to open doors in stations. That's just speculation, though...

Maybe this is a chance for an informative FOIA request?

+1 Vote up Vote down

@VeggieTart · 640 weeks ago

This is Metro. You expect it to make sense? Clearly there aren't sensors that ensure the doors open on the proper side.

But the problem with such sensors is that it would mean installing sensors along the edge of the platform. Given how tough it is to line the train up with the end of the platform, I don't want to imagine how hard it would be to make sure the train was lined up with the sensors too!

+10 Vote up Vote down

n2deep · 640 weeks ago

there used to be a platform detect sensor on the cars. i cannot remember the reasons it was disabled.

1 reply · active 640 weeks ago

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Jason · 640 weeks ago

It probably broke, and if anyone knows how to fix it, they objected to the repairs cutting into their paid naptime.

+5 Vote up Vote down

Heather · 640 weeks ago

Talk about Metro opens doors....but just the wrong ones.....ba dump bump....

+3 Vote up Vote down

Nick · 640 weeks ago

Yeah the stupidity of this one is pretty shocking. Wouldn't the operator look out their little window and see the the lack of platform immediately next to the window?

I don't remember if the green line L'elephant platform is in the middle or two platforms on the sides. But if the platform is in the middle, the operator would be staring at a concrete wall when opening the door, and if the platforms are on the sides, he/she would be looking at the void where the other train goes. WTF.

1 reply · active 640 weeks ago

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jkuchen · 640 weeks ago

FWIW, the Y/G platform there is on the side. The B/O platform is in the middle.

+1 Vote up Vote down

guest · 640 weeks ago

Rahall is clearly not riding the same system the rest of us are.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/metro-has-f...

0 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 640 weeks ago

The driver got a vacation out of this!
http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2518541

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Matt · 640 weeks ago

The train operator that blatantly screwed up and could have killed people has been placed on paid leave. Shocking.

+3 Vote up Vote down

jimlcunningham 80p · 640 weeks ago

I was on a nearly empty Red Line train this morning at Silver Spring that had one side of one door that wasn't closing. The driver kept yelling at the passengers over the intercom to stop blocking the doors as if it was a crammed train and people were holding the doors to get in, but there was hardly anyone on the train and nobody was near the doors.

I think "blame the passengers" is the default for drivers over "blame the train".