Passenger Trains > DC Metro Red Line Track Occupancy Detection Problems Co

Local D.C. papers reporting today that the Metro Red Line continues to have intermittent outages in detecting trains in the section of track between Takoma Park and Fort Totten stations on the Red Line -- the section where two trains collided last month, killing 9 and injuring 70.

While a permanent solution is sought, the system has resorted to an "absolute block" system, in which only one train at a time is allowed on the tracks between Takoma Park and Fort Totten stations. Employees with telephones stand on the platforms at the two involved stations and telephone each other to report when trains depart these stations in each direction.

Reduced frequency of train service, (more) packed trains, and travel delays are the result.

Is it clear that only the red line (and only this segment of it) is affected by these transient problems in the circuits? If not, it seems that meticulously monitoring the block occupancy on this section of the red line and trusting the automatic system to work as intended on the rest of Metro is sort of akin to driving slowly with your seatbelt fastened through the intersection where you once had a wreck and taking off the seatbelt and speeding everywhere else you drive.

Local DC papers say it is only the section of track between Takoma Park and Fort Totten stations that are not detecting trains intermittently, even after the components of the detection circuits have been replaced -- several times so far since the accident last month.