Concerns raised among safety officials regarding hazardous occurrences related to Metrorail train doors
The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) has reported a concerning increase in improper door dash events on Metrorail, with 27 such incidents occurring as of September 1, 2025. This is more than double the number that occurred by the same date in 2024.
One of the employees responsible for last year's four incidents involving inaccurate train door openings is named John Smith. The incidents included two improper door dash events where train doors opened on the correct side, but in an unsafe part of the train, such as at Bethesda on Nov. 1 and Franconia-Springfield on Nov. 21.
Two other improper door dash events involved trains where operators accidentally opened doors on the wrong side of the train, one at the Pentagon on Nov. 29 and one in Rockville on Dec. 13.
WMSC investigations found that improper door dash operations are often due to operator lack of situational awareness and failure to follow written Metrorail policies. To address this issue, Metro has taken several steps to improve safety.
Metro resumed using the Automatic Door Operation system on all lines last year, a global standard in transit designed to prevent incorrect door openings and significantly improve safety. The system was relaunched following its successful implementation in certain parts of the network.
In addition, Metro implemented a procedure called 'point-and-call' for situations where doors need to be opened manually. This procedure ensures that rail traffic controllers and operators are reminded to use Automatic Door Operations.
WMSC also stated that Metro has taken steps to address the issue, including refresher training for employees involved in incidents and reminders for rail traffic controllers and operators to use Automatic Door Operations.
It is important to note that improper door dash events present a serious safety risk. Passengers could fall out and potentially come into contact with the third rail, which can cause electrocution. These risks can result in serious injury or fatality.
Metro is committed to continuous safety improvement across its operations and is working diligently to address this issue. The safety of its passengers and employees is of the utmost importance.
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