CTA Tattler

What NTSB ruled after 2001 CTA accidents, how the CTA responded; what's next

Last week the National Transportation Safety Board very closely examined the actions of the motorman on the Blue Line train that derailed Tuesday -- just as they did five years ago.

After two different incidents of train collisions in 2001, the NTSB ruled that the "CTA's system safety program was not effective in the area of rules compliance, yet the agency's year 2000 internal safety audit found that service rail operation employees [were complying] with safety rules and S.O.P's."

The key recommendation by the NTSB was that the CTA "develop and implement systematic procedures for performing and documenting frequent management checks to ensure all operating personnel are complying with Chicago Transit Authority operating rules, including speed restrictions and signal rules. (R-02-22)"

For its part, in response the CTA increased its annual on-board "line-ride checks" or motorman from two to eight, among other changes.

It's way too early to say what exactly caused the derailment. But weekend reports said the NTSB found rails in the accident area were too far apart.

In 2001, it was the NTSB scolding CTA's lax oversight of personnel. Perhaps this time it will focus on rail maintenance failures.