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mahatmakanejeeves

(57,393 posts)
Thu Jan 17, 2019, 12:15 PM Jan 2019

"Metra Comes Clean" on Gates That Failed To Come Down

Passenger Trains > "Metra Comes Clean" on Gates That Failed To Come Down

Date: 01/16/19 16:11
"Metra Comes Clean" on Gates That Failed To Come Down
Author: Englewood

There were multiple failures earlier in the day before the one captured on police dash cam.
Cover up would have been accomplished if the dash cam had not gone viral.
In usual M.O. company is putting blame on a locomotive engineer. He may have seriously erred in not reporting the first incident but I don't think he designed, installed, tested or maintained the warning devices. The latter is where the serious problem is.

I noticed on the way home yesterday evening another maintainer had his hands in the instrument case at 191st St. and a police car was stationed at the crossing. This afternoon two maintainer trucks and a Metra PD SUV at the crossing.
Apparently something is still not right. Trains are getting some type of protect the crossing order because they are running about 10 mph and Metra PD are on the scene.

The always investigating and always stunning Megan Hickey on the job for CBS 2
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/01/16/multiple-close-calls-after-metra-engineer-failed-to-report-crossing-gate-issue-in-mokena/

Metra is not really coming clean. They are still blaming a short circuit for the gates not coming down.
Here are my multiple posts from a few weeks ago when the problem first surfaced. I told you all then there was more to it than what the Metra mouthpieces were saying.
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,4694841,page=1

Chris Hush from NBC 5 has also checked in with his spin. Chris clearly knows as much as the Metra CEO. Apparently they have no fix. Something is not working properly and they have no idea what is wrong. Let's just put in a new operating rule and cross our fingers that it will take care of the problem.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/New-Video-Shows-Another-Frightening-Close-Call-With-Metra-Train-After-Gates-Fail-to-Come-Down-in-Time-504447282.html

"Metra said an electrical short in the system was to blame, giving a green signal to the engineer inside the train cab
even though gates were malfunctioning.

A new rule is now being implemented where trains that are allowed to pass a "stop" track signal are required to travel no more than 20 miles per hour (a restricted speed), giving the engineer "complete control of that train when they recognize something is going wrong with the gates."

Metra noted that if the trains had positive train control, the safety system also wouldn't have allowed the train to go
beyond the restricted speed and would have even stopped the train. It's a system they say will eventually be implemented.

The transit agency said disciplinary action is being reviewed for the engineer who failed to report the first incident shown on video."


No word from the agency on reviewing the design, installation, testing and maintenance of the crossing warning devices.




Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 01/16/19 16:28 by Englewood.
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