Photo by Bullneck

Yet another Metro train derailment occurred Wednesday, this time at low speed in a rail yard with no passengers on board, the Examiner reports.

Thankfully, no one was injured. WMATA told the paper it looks like human error may have been to blame in this case, as the operator apparently ran a red signal at an interlocking in the rail yard. Three people involved in the incident, two operators on the train and a rail yard worker stationed at the relevant interlocking device, were given drug and alcohol tests and put on paid administrative leave, according to the Examiner.

By all accounts, a relatively minor incident. But this paragraph is nonetheless troubling:

Transit officials did not release news of the incident to the public. The Examiner learned of it from two Metro employees who asked not to be named.

This revelation comes on the same day that the WMATA board is digesting a new report from transit consultant David Gunn, delivered Thursday behind closed doors. While the full report has not been released to the public, a summary shows that one of the key recommendations made by Gunn to get Metro’s house in order is to communicate more openly and candidly about safety issues with the public.