MARC train hits the rear of WMATA's 6040

[C40LF_2464]

Saw a DE40LFR stuck on the tracks at the MARC Riverdale station and a Flxible supposely hit but ill upload the pics so you guys will know what i mean.

[WES]

I am watching the news during the aftermath.

About 4:30 one bus was crossing  the tracks at Rhode Island Avenue, when the gate came onto the rear of the bus (looks like the DE40LFR, 6040) when a MARC train hit that bus and pushed it into another bus (Metro D 9731).  There were 8 MINOR injuries  and it seems like 6040 got the worse of it, which what looks like the rear right got damaged.  9731 appears to have very minor damage.  I was just looking at it on News 4 and though both buses don't look that bad and the train had just a scratch, they didn't show the right side of 6040.

[C40LF_2464]

I know its not the best quality and i only had my phone on me at the time but here's what happend today:








I tryed to get as close as i could to and i saw 9741 going back to Landover division in nice condition but for 6040 they had to call a tow. I saw the back of that bus and it is not looking good. And to my knowledge this is a picture of 6040 earlier i think.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

MARC train collides with Metrobus For immediate release: March 26, 2009  Minor injuries reported  A Metrobus was involved in a collision with a MARC train and another Metrobus at about 4:24 p.m. today (March 26) at Queensbury Road and Lafayette Avenue in Riverdale, Md.

According to the preliminary report, Metrobus 6040, which had no passengers on board and was operating an F4 route to the New Carrollton Metrorail station, was traveling eastbound on Queensbury Road and attempting to cross the railroad tracks when it was delayed by a second Metrobus attempting to make a left turn.

The second Metrobus, number 9731, operating an F4 route to the Silver Spring Metrorail station, was traveling westbound on Queensbury Road. While bus 6040 waited for bus 9731 to complete its left turn, the railroad crossing gate hit the rear of bus 6040 and it was unable to move.

The impact of the train collision with bus 6040 caused it to spin and strike the driver's side mirror of bus 9731. Seven passengers on bus 9731 were taken to an area hospital with minor, non-life threatening injuries. Approximately 12 people were on board the bus.

The bus operator of bus 6040, which was struck by the train, was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Prince George's County police and fire authorities along with Metro Transit Police and Riverdale Police are investigating this incident. It is Metro's standard procedure to remove bus operators involved in an accident for drug and alcohol testing. In addition, Metro will conduct its own internal investigation.

[79MetroExtraMD]

The back of 6040 is wrecked. I saw Fox 5 video of it. I got affected by this tonight trying to get home from College Park. My 6:43 train was cancelled because of this. I'm just getting home after leaving work at 6:30.

[WayneNYC]

Here's the link.
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0309/607580.html

[Nabinut]

From photos, it doesn't look bad but structurally, the cradle may be damaged so...

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

Wow...I never heard of this till now...I thought a train collision would automatically destroy those buses completely...but it sounds like 9731 went away unhurt and 6040 has a chance to make it. Amazing...I hope 6040 recovers!

[Antozilla]

Methinks that bus will never see the new livery.

[LandoverDivision]

Chris Benjamin the witness in that video on the site, is a friend of mines. As I speak, he is sitting here in the same classroom as me and he also has photos of the incident.

[C40LF_2464]

I went there today everything looked like nothing happend got a couple pics if you guys want me to upload em and i caught up with APTA Chair Beverly Scott.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Metro temporarily detours F4 Metrobus route

For immediate release: March 29, 2009
Change in route follows Thursdays incident in Riverdale

Metro officials this morning, (March 29) have temporarily detoured the Metrobus F4 route (New Carrollton-Silver Spring) as Metro continues to investigate Thursday's incident involving two Metrobuses and a MARC train at a highway-rail crossing in Riverdale, Md.

Under this detour, Metrobuses will no longer operate across the highway-rail crossing at Queensbury Road and Lafayette Avenue where last week's accident took place.

All trips westbound will run their present routes to Riverdale Road and Taylor Road, then turn right at Taylor Road, turn left at East West Highway, turn left at Baltimore Avenue, turn right at Queensbury Road and onto its regular route.

All trips eastbound will run their present route to Queensbury Road and Baltimore Avenue, then turn left at Baltimore Avenue, a right onto East West Highway, a right onto Taylor Road, a left onto Riverdale Road and then on its regular route.

"While we are in the early stages of our investigation, out of an abundance of concern for the safety for our customers, we have decided to temporarily change the route of the F4 to avoid the railroad crossing," said Gerald Francis, Metro's Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. "Over the next few weeks, we will monitor the performance of the route, and if it's successful, we will make this change permanent."

To communicate this temporary service change, Metrobus officials will post signs at 11 bus stops affected by the detour and will also deploy street supervisors to communicate this change to bus customers who use this portion of the F4 route.

Last Thursday afternoon, a Metrobus was involved in a collision with a MARC train and another Metrobus at Queensbury Road and Lafayette Avenue in Riverdale, Md. At the time of the incident, Metrobus 6040, which had 30 to 35 passengers on board, was traveling eastbound on Queensbury Road and attempting to cross the railroad tracks when it was delayed by a second Metrobus attempting to make a left turn. The second Metrobus, number 9731, was traveling westbound on Queensbury Road. While bus 6040 waited for bus 9731 to complete its left turn, the railroad crossing gate hit the rear of bus 6040 and it was unable to move. The impact of the train collision with bus 6040 caused it to spin and strike the driver's side mirror of bus 9731. Seven passengers on bus 9731 were taken to an area hospital with minor, non-life threatening injuries. Approximately 12 people were on board the bus. The bus operator of bus 6040, which was struck by the train, was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Prince George's County police and fire authorities along with Metro Transit Police and Riverdale Police are investigating this incident. It is Metro's standard procedure to remove bus operators involved in accidents and to conduct its own internal investigation.

[WMAveteran]

One has to wonder why a professional driver would take a bus across a busy railroad crossing when he/she knows the bus won't be able to clear the crossing immediately.  In defensive driving training you always drive way ahead of the traffic in order to avoid accidents.

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

For any DC area TA, are bus drivers required to stop at all railroad crossings? If not, they should...just so things like this won't happen again. South Florida has that rule, seeing as they have lots of railroad crossings, and I don't think I ever heard of a rail-bus incident from there.

[WayneNYC]

For any DC area TA, are bus drivers required to stop at all railroad crossings? If not, they should...just so things like this won't happen again. South Florida has that rule, seeing as they have lots of railroad crossings, and I don't think I ever heard of a rail-bus incident from there.

They may be required to stop at all crossings.  The problem here is that the B/O should've seen that there was not enough space on the other side for the entire bus to safely clear the tracks.  I drive across railroad tracks in my neighborhood regularly and if traffic is such that I can't make it completely across the tracks without stopping, then I'll wait.