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Metro behind schedule in hiring train operators

The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission found Metro has been short 60 train operators for months.

WASHINGTON — Metro is working to improve service by scheduling more trains and expanding routes, but now Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is facing a shortage of train operators.

At the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC)'s monthly meeting, CEO David Mayer said safety investigators found Metro has 60 fewer operators per day than it needs to run the number of trains it is scheduling right now. Especially given expanded Silver Line service and 7000 series cars slowly returning to service. 

To make up for the shortage, Metro has been forced to cut back service or ask train operators to work overtime to make up for the shortage. In one case, investigators found a train operator was caught speeding, and those investigators blamed operator inattention from being overworked. 

At Tuesday's meeting, Mayer said that operator had worked 30 days straight. 

"Many of these shifts leading up to this invent involved extended and varying hours," Mayer said. 

WMSC said data shows the operator shortage dates back to October, meaning Metro has been short dozens of train operators on a daily basis since then. 

Metro sent a statement addressing the shortage saying, "Metro is on on a path of continuous safety improvements, and we appreciate WMSC's efforts on our shared goals. We will review the report and take any necessary actions."

This follows fresh accusations from the safety commission including that Metrorail didn’t follow WMATA’s own investigative procedures after a series of train overruns in November. 

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