Is WMATA being too safe actually a bad thing?

[LandoverDivision]

Is it me or has anybody else noticed that ever since the huge crash and the NTSB watching every move they make, WMATA has had an excessive number of accidents? Another thing when the trains actually stop at the front end of the platform, why did they have to that? Is that another precaution WMATA is taking? It sure sucks when they do that.

[Annex4421]

Is it me or has anybody else noticed that ever since the huge crash and the NTSB watching every move they make, WMATA has had an excessive number of accidents? Another thing when the trains actually stop at the front end of the platform, why did they have to that? Is that another precaution WMATA is taking? It sure sucks when they do that.

Yeah I did, I think WMATA's cursed since the accident. I also wonder why the trains stop at the end?
I think it isn't a bad thing I think its just their focused too hard on it.

[LandoverDivision]

I also wonder why the trains stop at the end?
I think it isn't a bad thing I think its just their focused too hard on it.

A train got into an incident because of this and a lot of people miss the train due to it. I think it an extremely bad idea for 6 car trains. For 8 cars, since they stretch back some, it's not so bad.

[Annex4421]

I also wonder why the trains stop at the end?
I think it isn't a bad thing I think its just their focused too hard on it.

A train got into an incident because of this and a lot of people miss the train due to it. I think it an extremely bad idea for 6 car trains. For 8 cars, since they stretch back some, it's not so bad.

Yeah me too, But the trains were the Rohr's so that phase for should be done with they all run in the middle now.

[WayneNYC]

Is it me or has anybody else noticed that ever since the huge crash and the NTSB watching every move they make, WMATA has had an excessive number of accidents? Another thing when the trains actually stop at the front end of the platform, why did they have to that? Is that another precaution WMATA is taking? It sure sucks when they do that.

Yeah I did, I think WMATA's cursed since the accident. I also wonder why the trains stop at the end?
I think it isn't a bad thing I think its just their focused too hard on it.

It's to ensure that the entire train is at the platform.  I think it sense at WMATA (in manual mode) since they operate different length trains on the same line.

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

Another thing when the trains actually stop at the front end of the platform, why did they have to that? Is that another precaution WMATA is taking? It sure sucks when they do that.

They do that because sometimes when train operators get 8-car trains, they forget and they would still think they have 6-car trains, maybe because they're used to it. So now, they decided that all trains should stop at the end of the platform so that they would prevent the last car of 8-car trains to stop and open their doors in a portion of the tunnel.

For Gallery Place-Chinatown (red line going to Glenmont), I know they have been doing this even before the train crash, and it makes sense because the exit is all the way at the end of the station.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the National Airport stop also did this before, I think. I once came out the airport, saw a yellow line train approaching (northbound), it was a 6-car train and I entered the station through the far south side, and when the train pulled up, I had to run to get in since it was far up the station, so I assumed it stopped at the end of the platform. Then again, this was back when 4-car trains still operated on the yellow line, so that's another possibility.

[Tristan]

I think you're correct, George, about the Airport.  There are signs at the south end of the platform, similar to those at Union Station, telling people to "move forward to board trains" and then "Board Trains from this point forward".  Union Station trains stop at the end of the platform as well -- I think the assumption is that people (travelers and commuter railers) are coming into Union Station on Metrorail from downtown, so the trains stop closest to the commuter rail exit, and coming out of Union Station from commuter rail and Amtrak to head towards downtown, so the trains pull forward to make sure people don't crowd around the escalators.  Just an assumption though.  If it doesn't make sense, I'll draw you a picture.  Maybe the same is true for the airport.

[Scrabbleship]

In one word: YES!!

I will love to see what happens if the current stopping policies are still in effect come Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day when WMATA has traditionally run 4-car trains and people in some situations have to hike half the platform to get to their train. I think if by that point riders don't call WMATA out, nobody ever will.

[Tristan]

I think WMATA quit running 4-car trains in all circumstances; we'll see come holiday time but I thought that when they stopped running 4-cars at night that they also extended it to holidays.

[Annex4421]

I think WMATA quit running 4-car trains in all circumstances; we'll see come holiday time but I thought that when they stopped running 4-cars at night that they also extended it to holidays.

I think so too I haven't a 4-car train since 2004.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

The Airport stop has always been in the middle of the platform for as long as I can remember.  The move forward signs were so that people didn't all stand by the escalator and then have to sprint to the middle of the platform to board the train once it arrived.  The also have those signs at Union Station on the east end of the station.