DENVER — The operator of a Regional Transportation District light rail train that ran off the end of tracks at a station in Golden in March likely fell asleep, the Denver Post reports.
The RTD disclosed findings of its investigation into the March 11 incident as it filed a corrective action plan with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, the Post reports. Two passengers were injured when the train ran past the end of the track and up a hill at the Jefferson County Government Center station [see “Two injured as light rail train derails …,” Trains News Wire, March 11, 2023].
The report says the operator was likely asleep and that “excessive speed and inattention of the train operator” caused the accident. The agency will adjust its “fit for duty,” checklist, conduct a fatigue awareness campaign among operators, and evaluate operators’ starting times and shift durations.
The Government Center station has yet to reopen, with the RTD serving the center with shuttle buses from its Red Rocks College station. A lengthy service disruption after an accident is nothing new for the RTD light rail system. After a Sept. 21, 2022, derailment in Aurora, a segment of the R Line where that incident occurred was shut down until late November [see “After more than two months, full service restored …,” News Wire, Nov. 29, 2022].
Was the driver on one of those very early morning shifts? No or little sleep before work?
All this electronic Felgercarb is fine but: The good old fashioned NY subway fixed stop arms would be great for stopping a light rail from running off the end unless too fast. Unfortunately, probably too costly to install some kind of mechanical stop on light rail cars
In Media, State Street had two grooves in the asphalt about 50 feet beyond the end of Red Arrow’s track. It happens. Why did Denver RTD shut the station down over a month?
Another episode of “things that go bump in the night!”
Light rail should have the same “dead man” switch most of the mainline locomotives have in America. If not acknowledged after so long, a VERY loud horn should sound in the cab and the train brakes be applied.
PTC costs would put most light rail networks out of business with such exorbitant costs for such few rail miles of operation.
Maybe RTD should install steep inclines at this terminus to ameliorate such occurrences. Are alerters NOT installed within the cab of these vehicles?
Man, this is the O’Hare station crash all over again. No seriously, this incident was at a terminus station, the train climbed up something, and its thought that the driver fell asleep.
No PTC?
No PTC, but if there were PTC it would be one more excuse for a train driver to fall asleep, eat lunch, smoke a blunt, or play a game on his cell phone.
PTC is great but we also need crews fit for duty.