WASHINGTON — Federal safety inspectors had to “jump out of harm’s way” when a speeding Metro train nearly struck them Thursday morning, the Federal Transit Administration said Friday.
The inspectors were analyzing track conditions near Reagan National Airport when a train sped right through the area where they were standing, said a statement from the agency with temporary oversight responsibilities for Metro.
Metro spokesman Richard Jordan told WTOP that two trains were involved in the incident, and both train operators have been taken out of service until the investigation is complete.
The FTA said that Metro had put temporary speed restrictions in place in the area for the safety of the crews on the tracks, but the train did not slow down or stop. That is a major safety violation.
Metro and the FTA are investigating the incident.
It is just the latest safety incident involving trains speeding past work crews. Federal inspectors have identified several other similar situations over the last year, and a Metro worker had to dive out of the way of a Red Line train that ran a red signal this summer.
