D.C. Metrorail officials probe software failure
7/16/2012WASHINGTON -- Metrorail officials struggled Sunday to figure out why a software program for tracking trains failed over the weekend, forcing two shutdowns of all five lines on the nation's second-busiest subway system.
Hundreds of passengers were stranded in the two incidents and dozens of trains had to idle for up to 30 minutes on Saturday and again early Sunday.
Trains resumed normal operations Sunday, and officials said they did not anticipate any problems for today's commute.
This weekend's service disruptions occurred when a computer software program that provides controllers with a map of train locations went dark twice, Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said.