Metro Fires 21 Employees After Falls Church Derailment: Report

FALLS CHURCH, VA -- After rotting tracks were overlooked, causing a derailment of a Silver Line Metro train July 29, Metro announced in December it has fired six employees including four track inspectors and two supervisors.

Metro made the decision to terminate the employees, Metro general manager Paul Wiedefeld announced in December, after an internal review determined that certain employees in the track department falsified track inspection records.

This week, WAMU reports that Metro has actually fired 21 people over falsifying inspection records, including five supervisors in Metro’s track inspection department, who aren’t represented by the transit union.

In December, in addition to the six who were terminated, Metro said that:

• Six more track inspectors were pending termination or unpaid suspension; and 10 more were pending possible discipline pending the outcome of the administrative process
• Another supervisor termination was underway; and two more supervisors were pending the outcome of the administrative process
• One Superintendent was demoted to Supervisor
• One Assistant General Superintendent was demoted to Superintendent
• One assistant superintendent separated from Metro before the review concluded

Metro's general manager is supposed to shed more light on the firings on Thursday.

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