Maybe the latch is broken or malfunctioning. I've seen this happen a couple of times (although never in the rear car) and I was unable to get the door to stay shut.
I tried to close a door that opened on the Orange Line a while back, and it refused to stay shut. I repeatedly slammed it for all it was worth while careening through the tunnel and it flew back open.
Maybe it won't latch unless locked, so workers don't accidentally forget to secure it? (which is why the door on my OL train opened in the first place)
I certainly would have tried at the next stop, but not while the train was moving! Maybe I'm just skittish, but just watching that video made me nervous about falling out.
So did you press the passenger intercom button to tell the crew, or if that didn't work, get off at the next stop and walk up to the person controlling the doors to let him or her know?
If it was one of the side doors open, that would be a big problem, as those doors are tied into the brake system and the train should not be able to move if those doors were open.
The end doors (which this is) are just simple manually operated doors with a key lock, which some crew member probably didn't slam shut hard enough when changing control positions at the end of the line. Just get up and close it or notify a crew member. Also note that these end doors are designed to be opened quickly and easily in case of an emergency (there is a lock release lever locted next to the door, marked for emergency use)
I didn't say that couldn't happen, just that it would be a big problem if it did because that would mean the safety interlock was not working as it should.
Someone at Railroad.net mentioned that using the emergency handles on Orange and Red line trains might force the train out of service afterwards for a trip to the yard. Apparently the mechanism is secured in the normal / everything-is-A-OK position by a piece of hardware that gets destroyed when the handle is used.
Even if that weren't the case, it's probably something that can wait 90 seconds under most circumstances. Unless you've got a car full of preschoolers running around or something.
NYC has actually launched an PR campaign to convince people NOT to use the emergency brakes. Because short of someone trapped in the door or between the cars / platforms, you don't want to stop.
Pulling the brake handle for medical emergencies makes it impossible for help to arrive quickly. The operator is going to walk back six cars, stopping to unlock each door along the way, only to say "Wow, can't do anything about your heart attack."
Crime in progress? Same thing. The Transit Police are probably chilling in their SUVs at Park St.
A fire? You really, really don't want to stop in the middle of a tunnel. It's better for the operator to just gun it for the next station with their fingers crossed. There's six cars of people to empty and direct towards the nearest emergency exit in a confined, smoke-filled space with an unshielded 600V flowing along the floor.
When you have to launch a PR campaign to not use a supposed safety feature of a product, that should tell you that you might want to redesign the product. Seems there are more instances where the last thing you would want to do would be to stop the train, then maybe it's best if that isn't presented as an option.
Brings back memories of an uncle warning us to "not step on this rotted board right...here..." upon which he promptly fell through and into the cesspool.
I don't disagree that things could be designed better, but the use case is simple: if someone is trapped in a door and being dragged by the train then it is a matter of life and death if someone can pull the emergency stop quickly or not.
If and only if someone is in immediate danger directly resulting from the movement of the vehicle, then the emergency brake is to be used.
It's not a matter of the number of instances, there really is only one case, but it must be there for that. And it does really happen.
What is it with those law enforcement agents sitting in that running SUV outside of Park St station?
What are they doing there? Why do we have to breathe their fumes?
Comments
No need to worry, Jack Bauer
No need to worry, Jack Bauer had just kicked out a terrorist.
Open door policy at the MBTA?
Open door policy at the MBTA?
That's probably some sort of
That's probably some sort of safety violation, but that's really fricking cool.
Common Sense
I was wondering why this individual didn't just get up and close the door.
that doesn't get attention...
that doesn't get attention...
Not union?
Maybe the person wasn't in the union?
Broken latch?
Maybe the latch is broken or malfunctioning. I've seen this happen a couple of times (although never in the rear car) and I was unable to get the door to stay shut.
Probably
I tried to close a door that opened on the Orange Line a while back, and it refused to stay shut. I repeatedly slammed it for all it was worth while careening through the tunnel and it flew back open.
Maybe it won't latch unless locked, so workers don't accidentally forget to secure it? (which is why the door on my OL train opened in the first place)
I certainly would have tried
I certainly would have tried at the next stop, but not while the train was moving! Maybe I'm just skittish, but just watching that video made me nervous about falling out.
Looks like the door slammed itself shut
near the end of the video.
The door was open and shut the whole ride
It did slam shut, pretty hard, but it always opened back up again. The latch WAS broken.
-the guy who shot the video
So did you press the
So did you press the passenger intercom button to tell the crew, or if that didn't work, get off at the next stop and walk up to the person controlling the doors to let him or her know?
If the door latch is broken...
there is nothing a crew member can do either.
Maybe tie the door shut with a rope?
if they happen to have one sitting around at a station?
Duct tape
Srsly, it would hold it shut and you'd think it would be easily available, likely even in a decently stocked first aid kit or something.
Or at least take that car out of service until they can locate a maintenance person with some duct tape.
I think they ran out of duct tape
From trying to keep the entire T from falling apart.
They can isolate the car and
They can isolate the car and take it out of service if they are unable to get it to lock with their key.
If it was one of the side
If it was one of the side doors open, that would be a big problem, as those doors are tied into the brake system and the train should not be able to move if those doors were open.
The end doors (which this is) are just simple manually operated doors with a key lock, which some crew member probably didn't slam shut hard enough when changing control positions at the end of the line. Just get up and close it or notify a crew member. Also note that these end doors are designed to be opened quickly and easily in case of an emergency (there is a lock release lever locted next to the door, marked for emergency use)
Not so sure on that. Wasn't
Not so sure on that.
Wasn't there an issue a few years back when a side door opened completely half way down the tracks? No one was leaning on it luckily.
I didn't say that couldn't
I didn't say that couldn't happen, just that it would be a big problem if it did because that would mean the safety interlock was not working as it should.
you know those red handles at
you know those red handles at the end of the cars that you can pull -- that's what they are for! Don't take a damn video...
http://gothamist.com/2011/01/26/video_open_door_on_metro-north_trai.php
The intercom would probably work better
Someone at Railroad.net mentioned that using the emergency handles on Orange and Red line trains might force the train out of service afterwards for a trip to the yard. Apparently the mechanism is secured in the normal / everything-is-A-OK position by a piece of hardware that gets destroyed when the handle is used.
Even if that weren't the case, it's probably something that can wait 90 seconds under most circumstances. Unless you've got a car full of preschoolers running around or something.
NYC has actually launched an PR campaign to convince people NOT to use the emergency brakes. Because short of someone trapped in the door or between the cars / platforms, you don't want to stop.
Pulling the brake handle for medical emergencies makes it impossible for help to arrive quickly. The operator is going to walk back six cars, stopping to unlock each door along the way, only to say "Wow, can't do anything about your heart attack."
Crime in progress? Same thing. The Transit Police are probably chilling in their SUVs at Park St.
A fire? You really, really don't want to stop in the middle of a tunnel. It's better for the operator to just gun it for the next station with their fingers crossed. There's six cars of people to empty and direct towards the nearest emergency exit in a confined, smoke-filled space with an unshielded 600V flowing along the floor.
Bizzaro World T
When you have to launch a PR campaign to not use a supposed safety feature of a product, that should tell you that you might want to redesign the product. Seems there are more instances where the last thing you would want to do would be to stop the train, then maybe it's best if that isn't presented as an option.
Brings back memories of an uncle warning us to "not step on this rotted board right...here..." upon which he promptly fell through and into the cesspool.
It's not that hard
I don't disagree that things could be designed better, but the use case is simple: if someone is trapped in a door and being dragged by the train then it is a matter of life and death if someone can pull the emergency stop quickly or not.
If and only if someone is in immediate danger directly resulting from the movement of the vehicle, then the emergency brake is to be used.
It's not a matter of the number of instances, there really is only one case, but it must be there for that. And it does really happen.
Transit police in SUV outside at Park St
What is it with those law enforcement agents sitting in that running SUV outside of Park St station?
What are they doing there? Why do we have to breathe their fumes?
Do Not Lean Against Door
I like that sign on the door. After seeing that video, I don't want to stand anywhere near any door on the red line.
Where is the MBTA official to tell this person
They are not allowed to take video of the subway tunnels?
You are allowed to take any
You are allowed to take any images\videos you want on the T. As long as they are not for commercial purposes.