NTSB TO HOLD BOARD MEETING ON TWO FATAL WASHINGTON, DC SUBWAY ACCIDENTS

[NTSB Press Releases <NTSBPressReleases@xxxxxxxx>]

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                       NTSB ADVISORY
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National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

January 17, 2008

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NTSB TO HOLD BOARD MEETING ON TWO FATAL WASHINGTON, DC 
SUBWAY ACCIDENTS 




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Washington, DC -- The National Transportation Safety Board 
will hold a public Board meeting on Wednesday, January 23, 
2008 at 9:30 a.m., in its Board Room and Conference Center, 
429 L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, DC. 

        The Safety Board investigated two fatal Washington 
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail  
accidents within six months of one another that involved 
wayside workers.

        The two accidents on the agenda to be discussed are: 

Accident #1: 
*               On Sunday, May 14, 2006, a southbound WMATA 
Metrorail Red Line subway train struck and killed a 
Metrorail employee as the train was about to enter 
the Dupont Circle station in Washington, D. C.   
The employee was an automatic train control system 
mechanic who had been working with two other 
mechanics at the interlocking just north of the 
Dupont Circle station.  All three mechanics had 
moved between the two main tracks north of the 
interlocking in order to stay clear of a northbound 
train that was leaving the station.  As the 
southbound accident train was arriving, the other 
two mechanics remained in the clear between the two 
trains as they passed and were not injured.  

Accident #2:
*               On Thursday, November 30, 2006, a northbound WMATA 
Metrorail Yellow Line subway train struck and 
fatally injured two Metrorail employees who were 
performing a routine walking inspection of main 
track near the Eisenhower Avenue Metrorail station 
in Alexandria, Virginia.  The accident occurred as 
the northbound train was traveling about 35 mph 
along track normally used for southbound traffic.

        Directions to the Board Room: Front door is located on 
Lower 10th Street, directly below L'Enfant Plaza. From 
Metro, exit L'Enfant Plaza station at 9th and D streets 
escalator, walk through shopping mall and at CVS store take 
the escalator down one level. The Board Room will be to the 
left.

        A live and archived webcast of the proceedings will be 
available on the Board's web site at www.ntsb.gov. Technical 
support details are available under "Board Meetings." To 
report any problems, please call (703) 993- 3100 and ask for 
Webcast Technical Support.


Media Contact:  Keith Holloway (202) 314-6100




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