D.C. Metro chief fears for other rail systems

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By Sarah Abruzzese and Melissa Giaimo THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Metro General Manager John B. Catoe Jr. said problems traced to a 30-year-old computer system being eyed in connection with last month's train crash could have consequences for transit systems nationwide.

He made the comments during a wide-ranging interview with editors and reporters at The Washington Times on Thursday, a day after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it was looking at track circuit modules in a control room near the Fort Totten Metro station in connection with the June 22 crash that killed nine people and injured more than 80.

"With this, depending again what they ultimately find, could be much larger. It's an issue, depending upon what they find, not just for [the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]. We're not the only one with this type of system. Most rail operations around the country have a similar system to this," said Mr. Catoe, who insisted he was speculating and distanced himself from the NTSB investigation.

"If they find, let's say, that there's a defect in the part, then you have to look at all the parts around the country because there's only two manufacturers of those parts," he said.

Mr. Catoe said he could not comment on the ongoing crash investigation but that he had his own suspicions about the cause of the crash.

"I don't have any doubt that it was in the train-control system," he said.

The total financial cost of the accident is unclear, but Mr. Catoe said the least amount Metro likely will pay will be the insurance deductible of $5 million per accident.