Washington DC's Metro Green and Yellow Lines Cleared for Automated Train Operations

The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission has given Metro permission to operate automated trains on the Green and Yellow lines, according to a statement reported by NBC Washington. This decision allows these lines to join the Red Line, which has been under automatic train operation (ATO) since December.

Despite prior concerns regarding station overruns on the Red Line, where trains didn't stop at the correct platform position, the oversight body has now declared that Metro "substantially satisfied the prerequisites to run automatic train operation." These concerns, which surfaced in April, had temporarily halted Metro's plans to expand automation across additional lines, as detailed in coverage by NBC Washington.

Although train operation is shifting to ATO, Metro operators remain on board in the drivers' cab to ensure passenger safety and monitor track conditions, DC News Now reports. Their presence is not purely supervisory; operators are tasked with closing doors once passengers are safely on the train and maintaining vigilance to handle any potential safety concerns or environmental issues.