Metro Removing All 4000-Series Railcars Over Safety Concerns

WASHINGTON, DC — A safety concern has prompted Metro to remove all 4000-series rail cars from operation, the latest blow to a system that has been reeling from setbacks throughout 2016.

The move will affect dozens of 4000-series railcars, and the safety concern stems from its automatic train control system (ATC), according to a statement from Metro issued Thursday. Metro is concerned that the ATC could result in a "false indication" to a train operator.

"Metro's ATC system keeps trains properly spaced and a safe distance from other trains by displaying 'speed commands' on a control panel in the operator's cab," the statement reads. "When operating in 'manual mode,' the train operator responds to the speed commands, which indicate the train's maximum authorized speed relative to the train's location and distance from other trains. Train operators receive 'zero speed commands' -- indicated by a double zero -- when the train is not authorized to move (i.e. the equivalent of a 'stop signal')."

Metro says that there is a small chance for an undetectable failure in the 4000-series ATC system control board.

"Today's action is being taken in an abundance of caution and, while we believe that the risk is small, it is a risk I am unwilling to take," Metro chief Paul Wiedefeld said in the statement. "Everything we do here is going to put safety first, no matter what."

Metro began the process of removing 4000-series cars from the tracks at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, and the process will take several hours.

"The 4000-series is the smallest and least reliable of Metro's six 'legacy' fleets," the statement continues. "There are 41 married pairs of 4000-series cars currently in active service, and Metro was already considering retiring all of them by the end of 2017. Metro may further accelerate the 4000-series retirement in light of this newly identified issue."

Image via WMATA