Metro sent around an announcement yesterday that in the past 100 days, train doors have opened on the side without a platform four times. While they say these mistakes mark only four instances in about the last 22 million times that train doors have opened, they’re taking the problem seriously enough that for the foreseeable future, Metrorail operators have been instructed to open train doors manually.

Train doors are supposed to open automatically, although operators have always closed them manually. The four mistakes have occurred as the result of electromagnetic interference from ongoing power substation upgrades. Until a new electronic component can be installed in each of Metro’s 1,066 rail cars, which will take at least until the fall of 2009, operators will have to both open and close the doors by pushing a button.

Having Metrorail doors open on the wrong side and accidentally plummeting down to the tracks ranks right up there at the top of my list of semi-irrational city life fears, such as falling through a loose sidewalk grate or getting hit by a Metrobus. As such, I’m relieved that Metro isn’t taking any more chances. Still, I’m also curious to see how this change will affect train schedules. Will doors open more slowly? Will it mean an end to operators needing to scoot the train forward a few feet so that the doors can open? Take note, DCist readers, and let us know what you see.

Photo by Lilliang