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W Line Crash

GDT > Features > Light Rail Safety > W Line Crash

Incident Description

On Saturday March, 11 2023 at 9:32am an RTD light rail train operating a westbound “W” Line service from Denver Union Station failed to stop and then crashed into the bump stops at the Jefferson County Government Center Station in Golden. The train consisted of 3x Siemens SD-160 units with light rail vehicle (LRV) #201 leading #202 and #268. Four customers and the operator were on board at the time of the crash. Two riders suffered minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital.

Colorado Public Radio Article
Mar 11th, 2023

Initial Response

As the incident constituted “A Derailment (Mainline or yard)” under 49 CFR Part 674.33, it was reported by RTD to the Colorado PUC and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) within two hours of happening.

Train Recovery

The leading LRV was re-railed on and towed to Mariposa Yard.

Investigation Timeline

Mar 15th, 2023 – Courthouse Video Show Train’s Speed Doubling

After a request for camera footage from the Jefferson County Government Center Station was denied by RTD due to Colorado Revised Statute § 40-18-104, 9NEWS obtains a video of the incident from the adjacent courthouse.

Rudimentary analysis of the video shows the train entered the station at 9mph (under the posted speed limit of 10mph) and then accelerated rather than slowing down to a stop. It was travelling at approximately 18mph when it hit the bump stops.

Mar 30th, 2023 – Colorado PUC Opens Investigatory Proceedings

On March 30th, 2023, the Colorado PUC issued Decision No. C23-0217 which opened investigatory proceedings. The proceeding no. is 23I-0143R.

An accident investigation report, A1-03112023, will remain confidential due to Colorado Revised Statute § 40-18-104.

Colorado PUC Decision C23-0217
Mar 30th, 2023

Apr 25th, 2023 – RTD Submits Corrective Action Plan CAP01

“RTD determined that the train operator likely fell asleep before impact and that excessive speed and inattention of the train operator are the causal factors of the accident.”

RTD, April 2023

On April 25th, 2023, RTD submitted Corrective Action Plan CAP01 to the Colorado PUC which concluded that the cause of the crash was the operator falling asleep.

RTD’s interim recommendations were:

  1. Update the Fit for Duty checklist to include an attestation from the Supervisor that they performed the check and from the employee that they are fit for duty.
  2. Consider further enhancements to the Fit for Duty process.
  3. Conduct Fatigue Awareness Campaign, which includes information regarding the hazards of operating a vehicle while taking certain medications.

RTD’s final recommendations were:

  1. Include Fatigue Awareness in recertification training biennially.
  2. Implement a comprehensive Fatigue Risk Management Program (FRMP) similar to Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) FRMP.
  3. Evaluate the starting time and duration of shifts for service.

There is no explanation of why the train sped up after entering the platform when the operator was supposed to be asleep.

There is no discussion of upgrading the Automatic Train Stop (ATS) safety system so it can cut in and stop a speeding train that is about to collide with the bump stop. This would have prevented this incident.

The operator left RTD shortly after the incident.

RTD CAP01-03112023
Apr 25th, 2023

May 24th, 2023 – Colorado PUC Approves Corrective Action Plan CAP01

On May 24th, 2023, the Colorado PUC issued Decision No. C23-0346 which approved RTD’s Corrective Action Plan CAP01.

Colorado PUC Decision C23-0346
May 24th, 2023

Our View…

Greater Denver Transit is extremely disappointed in the way this incident was investigated and the unsatisfactory conclusions RTD has arrived at.

  • There is no explanation of why the train sped up after entering the platform when the operator was supposed to be asleep.
  • There is no discussion of upgrading the Automatic Train Stop (ATS) safety system so it can cut in and stop a speeding train that is about to collide with the bump stop. This would have prevented this incident.
  • The operator appears to have been mainly blamed for the accident, rather than the systems in place.
  • The way this incident was investigated shows why Accident Investigation Reform is needed.