NTSB extends D.C train crash investigation

On Thursday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released additional information about its scheduled public hearing into the cause of the collision of two Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) Metrorail Red Line trains.

The hearing will now extend to three days beginning February 23, with the agenda focusing not only on the Metro accident investigation, but also the adequacy of state and federal oversight of rail transit systems, as well as the characteristics of high reliability organizations.

The collision occurred on June 22, 2009, between the Fort Totten and Takoma stations in Washington, D.C. As a result of this accident, there were nine fatalities and numerous injuries.

Questioning the witnesses will be the Board of Inquiry, chaired by NTSB Board Member Robert L. Sumwalt, a technical panel composed of the NTSB investigative staff, and representatives from the following parties to the investigation: Metro, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Amalgamated Transit Union, Tri-State Oversight Commission, Washington, D.C. Fire and EMS Dept., Alstom Signaling Inc., and Union Switch and Signal.

Information from the hearing will be used by the NTSB to prepare the final report on the accident, including safety recommendations aimed at preventing similar accidents in the future.

The link for the hearing Webcast will be found on the NTSB public hearing schedule Web page, www.ntsb.gov/events/hearing_sched.htm, when it becomes available.