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PollWould you all be happy with Configuration C or Configuration B for the new BART Cars?
1. Concept C http://bart.gov/docs/cars/interiorConepage.pdf
83%
2. Concept B http://bart.gov/docs/cars/interiorBonepage.pdf
17%
3. Concept D http://bart.gov/news/articles/2012/news20120112.aspx
0%
Total votes: 6
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Recent blog posts
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Results of NTSB investigation of Washington Metro crash The NTSB just came out with their report about the June 2009 Washington DC Metro crash. The Washington Post has details. I wonder if any of the issues identified or changes required will affect BART, given how similar the systems are. Anyone know? »
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I read over the article
I read over the article (backwards apparently, they put the newest item at the top, hehe) and with the train block detectors being the main problem, it would depend on what kind of equipment BART uses. Being a closed system, it may not be as difficult to maintain.
They also mentioned ATC problems with inadequate training, failure to provide manuals (I highly doubt the TOs would read the manual), and equipment failures. Let's hope BART is keeping their systems up, but I would bet these sort of problems are just a lack of funding for new equipment. Or wasting their money on new infrastructure.
I'm betting CalTrain is much more worried about this than BART is.
They've now posted an article
They've now posted an article written frontwards, which should be easier to understand!
Finally grabbed a minute to
Finally grabbed a minute to read the full article. The relevant quote is:
The NTSB also called on Alstom to conduct a comprehensive analysis of its track circuit modules to identify possible failures that could cause systems to not detect trains and to work with not only Metro but also transit agencies in Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Chicago to establish inspection and maintenance procedures for the circuit modules and remove any that exhibit the problem known as "parasitic oscillation" that caused the Red Line crash.
That implies that no, nothing in the Bay Area needs to be fixed in relation to this. I hope that's really the case!
From what I was told, there
From what I was told, there are systems (redundant in some cases) that would prevent what happened in the WMATA accident. Failure of a track serious is a SERIOUS problem, not only for operators, but for those support departments behind the movement, monitoring and maintenance of the system.
BART has a backup system that
BART has a backup system that specifically monitors track circuits for failure to detect trains which provides an automatic safe condition when activated. It is called SORS for Sequential Occupancy Release System.
Scroll down the page at:
BART official website System Facts
to the last sentence of the section "Operations Control Center (OCC)"
for:
"Backup train protection system - Sequential Occupancy Release System (SORS): 52 mini-computers in 26 stations."
"Failure of a track [sensor]
"Failure of a track [sensor] is a SERIOUS problem"
The thing I find most shocking about the reports about this accident is that apparently the Washington Metro DIDN'T consider that sort of failure to be a serious problem:
Metro has known since the 2005 Rosslyn near-crash that the automatic train-control system had experienced dangerous breakdowns but had not widely implemented a track circuit test developed after that incident, the NTSB found.
[...]
Instead, with track circuit problems setting off thousands of alarms each week, workers at Metro's Operations Control Center were not acknowledging them, NTSB investigator Ruben Payan said. "Unfortunately, they were being ignored because of the large amount that were being reported," he said.
For all the criticism that BART gets on this site, it's good to know that it does get important stuff like this right.