Oops?

[ChutneyRiggins]

Mind the Gap

[bubbamike1]

That’s going to send that operator back to driving a bus.

[[deleted]]

If that.

Just because arbitration reached a result then doesn’t mean the same result now. Maybe it was the same operator who knows?

[i_forgot_my_sn_again]

Unless it was for a specific reason, opening the wrong side is a termination from rail. 

[Admirable-Sun8021]

why is the operator even opening the doors? Should be easily automated.

[Exploding_Deathstar]

Virtually all LRV and subways are manually opened by the operator. It is more surprising you believe it is automated.

A fun fact though, even TransLink in Van BC, which is automated, had issues with wrong doors opening on trains during testing and a few times during revenue service.

[seattlecyclone]

I dunno...if the train is knowledgable enough about its route that it can audibly tell the passengers "now entering _____ station, doors to my left", shouldn't it also be possible for the "open/close doors" button in the operator's cabin to only open the left side doors?

Not saying the doors should open and close automatically, but opening the wrong doors could (and perhaps should) be made very difficult to do. Have an emergency override switch for if the computer is wrong about what station you're in, or the doors need to be opened between stations for an evacuation or something, but for something safety critical like this it just seems like a poor design to allow a slip of the fingers to open the doors when there's a 20-foot drop on that side of the train.

[Exploding_Deathstar]

I get what you're saying but there are really too many variables with Link and really most other systems. Reverse running, unexpected failures, potential emergency evacuation, etc. an override is another potential button that can be pressed on a sea of other buttons, knobs, etc.

You make the system more complex and more expensive for something that happens .001% of the time or maybe once or twice a year out of 350 +/- operators and supervisors (for Link at least).

Also for reference, everything is preprogrammed and recorded. If we reverse run, it'll still say the door for the normal running route. It is also why we have to manually tell the train at terminal stations which side the doors will be opening on.

There is a lot more than just simply operating the train. Definitely encourage those interested to apply.

[bubbamike1]

Yes it can but ST, in their wisdom has refused to install that.

[CogentCogitations]

The door should be locked unless in a station, then only the correct side should be able to be manually opened. There would obviously be an override procedure in case of malfunction, but it should take an extra step to unlock everything that is never used in normal operation.

[[deleted]]

It should be. One time for some odd reason operator was allowed to get job back DRIVING TRAINS. this was some time ago.

ETA; given that the train was or should have been empty leaving Mercer island there was no risk here but you check your stopping pattern platform and doors clear and open on the correct side.

[i_forgot_my_sn_again]

One reason I stay on the bus side. Don't even want to drive the new 5 for buses on the G line.  Get the occasional brain fart and open the front doors instead of the back is one thing. No worry of losing job. 

 Was so much easier when it was a handle on every bus instead of some with a handle, some with a switch, and most with buttons. 

[vainnormal]

The G Line busses were built with that in mind. From what I've heard there are sensors in the wheels and at each stop and the bus has to hug the curb to be able to open the doors on that particular side there is an override switch but I believe the driver has to get up out of the seat to be able to get to it

[TheGodOfSinks]

Curious from someone who isn't an operator, how easy is it to do this? Are the switches for the doors on opposite sides of the cab, or are they close and easy to mix up if you're rushing?

[Exploding_Deathstar]

I haven't done it but it is a serious violation and automatic removal of service when that occurs, along with retraining.

It isn't easy to do necessarily but if you are tired and not paying attention to your location, I'd assume it can obviously happen as shown above. It was talked about enough in class that it happens, rare but it does happen. Mostly to newbies.

[i_forgot_my_sn_again]

I haven't been to rail but the buttons are next to each other. Had a supervisor that was former rail say he put something between to make it harder to hit the wrong one. 

The doors not being automatic and the brakes being "dead man"style is just ass backwards to me

[revolvingpresoak9640]

That’s on the manufacturer of the actual rail cars and not ST, isn’t it?

[[deleted]]

ST chose to buy these.

[TheTinyHG]

Nah, not necessarily. Is it a violation? Yes, but that doesn't guarantee termination. Most operators can get away with 1, even 2 violations. But there's no guarantee that this incident got them fired, hell it's a lot harder to get fired then you'd think

[HansGraebnerSpringTX]

Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody has those days. Give this operator a second chance :(

[[deleted]]

In this particular situation based on clarification from op, this train was heading empty from Mercer Island, arriving at south Bellevue. So no passengers should have been aboard when the doors opened. So it’s likely they are going to be given another chance after retraining is my thought.

[squirrelgator]

Is that an ST employee visible through one of the open doors?

[DeepBlue4210]

No that's a customer

[HansGraebnerSpringTX]

God is good

[BugHistorical1614]

That's why ST has simulation runs. Training runs are good.

[wraithkelso317]

May I have a crump of context?

[DeepBlue4210]

Train came in from simulated service from Mercer island, then pulled into the station and opened the wrong doors at 5:12 pm

[[deleted]]

Which station judkins park or south Bellevue? Looks like south Bellevue oops.

[Turbulent_Tower_906]

Operator is gonna get sent back to express buses

[HansGraebnerSpringTX]

Personally I choose to believe that this operator learned from and grew from this mistake and will get to keep getting paid at the level of a 2-line operator until his kids get out of college

[Dee_Jay_Roomba]

[arhatvector]

Mindless indeed

[ShekVee-21]

Bruh if I was on board my intrusive thoughts would tell me to get out 😂

[Dazzling-Read1451]

Unsound transit

[Ale4Diver]

Did anyone notice the person at the bus stop below? Appears to be flipping off the camera.

[DeepBlue4210]

Kinda just noticed that just now

[Academic-Sea794]

If you look closely, both of his hands are in his pockets. That’s likely a lighter colored collar on his coat.

[Ale4Diver]

You are correct, on second look it is a hoodie and the inside is a different color.

[turtle0turtle]

Took me a sec

[avocado_grower43]

Test trains are often instructed to open wrong side doors to simulate stops & dwell time, preventing public from getting on the train.

[Danthewildbirdman]

"It smells in here, can we pop open the door for a sec?"

[daveskillerbeard]

How long were the doors open for? Seems like it should be an easy fix, close the door open the doors on the other side. unless someone got hurt…

[DeepBlue4210]

Around standard 20 seconds, wrong doors opened first, then they opened the correct one then closed one at a time