The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced late last week that it would return to the use of automated train technology on its Red Line subway artery for the first time since the deadly crash in June 2009 that had initially spurred widespread changes to the transit agency, notably the updating of its corridors to accommodate more stringent technologic applications.
Metrorail officials had been forced to put the system on hold, when investigators determined a computer error caused two trains to collide on the Red Line in 2009, killing nine people.
“The return of automatic train operation on the Red Line is a significant safety milestone for Metrorail,” Metro Deputy General Manager Rob Troup said in a statement. “I want to thank our riders for their forbearance through years of work, often on weekends, to allow us the track access necessary to perform essential signal upgrades.”
Metro officials said the automated train technology would be implemented on eight-car trains operating along its Red Line. The transit system’s other lines are not expected to be able to upgraded for automated trains until 2017.
