I just talked to a friend in DC

Because he rides that line I wanted to make sure he was okay.

Yes, there was an automated system that should have worked and didn't. But there's also a manual brake and one has to wonder why the train operator didn't pull it. (There may well be a good explanation but no one seems to know.)

I was also told all the trains are being operated manually today until they can figure out what the problem is.

Houndentenor

"Get the trash off the street and back on the stage where it belongs." -- Bette Midler