Photo by Samer Farha.

According to WTOP’s Adam Tuss, WMATA has instituted a “safety stand down” — in which the transit agency will require “all operating personnel participate in a safety briefing” — after two more train operators ran red light signals.

Tuss reports that train operators disregarded red stop signals outside of the West Falls Church Rail Yard on May 13 and at the Shady Grove Rail Yard on May 17. Neither train was carrying any passengers at the time of the infractions. Both operators have been taken off the job and are facing disciplinary action, as well as the usual drug and alcohol testing given to all Metro operators after accidents.

In 2010, two Metro employees were killed after being struck by a high rail truck near the Shady Grove station; in 2009, an accident involving multiple trains at the West Falls Church Rail Yard caused at least $9 million in damage.