Metrorail safety

Associated Press
Published: May 2, 2008

WASHINGTON _ Metro officials say one train operator has been fired and eight others have been suspended in recent months because they opened the doors on their trains before all the cars reached station platforms.
Metrorail chief Dave Kubicek says the moves follow at least 13 incidents since January involving the system’s longest trains. Operator error can leave some rear cars in the tunnel, short of the platform. Passengers exiting through the doors could fall onto the tracks.
Kubicek says he is not aware of any passenger injuries resulting from the errors.
Officials say the disciplined operators forgot they were operating the long eight-car trains and did not pull to the front of the platform before opening the doors.
In two cases, the error was blamed on an equipment malfunction.