Three Metro employees have been disciplined for allowing a 10-car train — two cars too many — to run on the Green Line last week.
The operator of the train was suspended without pay for 13 days, while the platform supervisor earned a five-day suspension and an interlocking operator who oversees train movements in rail yards was reassigned to a new job, Metro spokesman Steven Taubenkibel said Thursday.
A Metrobus driver who was convicted of simple assault for punching a cop dressed as McGruff the Crime Dog has returned to his spot behind the wheel, according to the transit agency.
Shawn Brim was fired after he pulled over his bus on Feb. 28, 2009, and slugged the crime-fighting mascot, as first reported in The Examiner. He was later found guilty of simple assault, D.C. Superior Court records show, and given a 15-day suspended sentence and six months probation.
An arbitration panel ruled this spring that he should be given back his job and retroactive pay except for a 30-day suspension. He underwent retraining earlier this month and started driving Wednesday, Metro spokesman Steven Taubenkibel said. — Kytja Weir
Two rail yard workers were cleared of wrongdoing and returned to their jobs, he said.
The five workers had been on paid leave while officials investigated why the Green Line train was allowed to leave the Branch Avenue Metrorail yard in Prince George’s County with two extra rail cars at the start of service on June 7.
The extra-long train passed through five stations before a station manager at the Anacostia stop alerted operations officials about the serious safety hazard.
But the train traveled to two more stations before it was pulled out of service, traveling to a total of eight stations with riders aboard. Such trains are a concern because rail platforms are built to hold a maximum of eight cars, leaving the remainder hanging into the tunnel and potentially exposing passengers to the dangerous third rail and tracks when doors open.
The investigation and disciplinary action were wrapped up this week. Taubenkibel said he did not know what job the interlocking operator would do next but said it would likely be within the rail division, possibly as a train operator or station manager.
