Metro-North system shutdown caused by human error

Photo by Michael T. Burkhart

NEW YORK – Human error is blamed for a computer problem that shut down three Metro-North commuter lines Thursday evening, WCBS-TV reports. Trains were stopped about 7:45 p.m. due to a failure in the dispatchers' computer system. The outage lasted almost two hours, but delays continued into the night.

The signal outage was caused when one of two main power supplies was removed from service for replacement, according to the report.

“Last night’s failure was unacceptable, pure and simple,” MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast says. “The project should have been analyzed for risks and redundancy before it began and it should not have been performed when thousands of customers were trying to get home in cold weather.”

The shutdown only affected the signal system. Stopped trains still had power for heat and lights. Trains were instructed to proceed to the next station at restricted speed to wait for the restart of the signal system.

The Port Jervis and Pascack Valley lines were unaffected as they are dispatched by NJ Transit under contract.

Thanks Paperboys for update.  So somebody pulled the supply when they should not have.  OOPs!  Doesn't say much for the redundancy backup switchover equipment unless unbeknownst to technician, the standby was dead.

But darn!  I liked my conspiracy/hacking theory better .  Sounds more sinister .