Safety of Southern California's New Metrolink Cab Cars Questioned

After a February Metrolink commuter train crash in Oxnard, Calif., train officials hailed the new Korean rail cars as having performed well. Now they have expressed second thoughts, and are replacing the front cab cars with BNSF locomotives.

2 minute read

September 8, 2015, 8:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


Officials of Southern California's 388-mile commuter rail line, Metrolink, were counting on their new Hyundai Rotem Co rail cars, manufactured in South Korea, to be safer than the Bombardier cars they replaced. After a Feb. 24 crash in Oxnard that derailed all four cars, injured 27, and killed the engineer, they have taken one type of the new cars out of service, notwithstanding the positive comments they made about the crashworthiness of the cars immediately after the incident.

"Now, however, Metrolink is trying to determine whether a design flaw in one of the state-of-the-art cars played a role in derailing the train," writes Dan Weikel for the Los Angeles Times. "On (Sept. 3), railroad officials announced that they will restrict the use of 57 of the new passenger cars that have control cabs for engineers and operate at the front of trains when they are being pushed from behind by locomotive."

Weikel is describing the "push-pull" operation of many commuter rail lines, where a locomotive pulls the train in one direction, and then the train reverses direction without changing the placement of the locomotive. The locomotive then pushes the train while a control cab, or cab car (see photo), as it is often called, allows an engineer to control the train from the lead car, which also carries passengers.

It was a new Hyundai Rotem cab car, not a locomotive, that hit a truck on the tracks in Oxnard on Feb. 24, and notwithstanding its new design, derailment, injuries, and death followed.

"We are taking this additional step as a redundancy to keep our riders safe," said Metrolink Chief Executive Art Leahy, referring to the replacement of cab cars with locomotives, thus temporarily ending push-pull operation. The cab cars will be utilized as coach cars.

Weikel goes on on to describe the part of the cab car that is being investigated. The freight locomotives will be in operation for a year during the investigation.

On September 12, 2008, 25 people died in a Metrolink train crash in Chatsworth (posted here). The February 24 crash with a truck that had turned onto the tracks is still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Thursday, September 3, 2015 in Los Angeles Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Yellow electric school bus with preteen students exiting.

California Invests Additional $5M in Electric School Buses

The state wants to electrify all of its school bus fleets by 2035.

April 25 - Associated Press

City Hall building in Austin, Texas.

Austin Launches $2M Homelessness Prevention Fund

A new grant program from the city’s Homeless Strategy Office will fund rental assistance and supportive services.

April 25 - Spectrum Local News

Brick school building with mid-sized tree on front lawn.

Alabama School Forestry Initiative Brings Trees to Schoolyards

Trees can improve physical and mental health for students and commnity members.

April 25 - Governing