Computer Malfunction Causes Train Delays

Event Year: 2012 Reliability: Confirmed
Country: United States
Industry Type: Transportation
Description:

A system-wide computer glitch caused train holds and delays.  The glitch affected a computer system that allows Metro’‘s Rail Operations Control Center to determine train locations on a dynamic map and remotely control switches.  The malfunctioning computer module was replaced.

Impact:

Forty-four trains were stopped at the station for about 40 minutes on July 14, 2012.  The computers also went down for about an hour on July 15, 2012.  With fewer trains moving at the time,  controllers radioed individual trains allwoing them to move while the system was still down.