WASHINGTON — In a move to enhance safety and efficiency across the Washington Metro system, officials are considering installing platform screen doors (PSDs) at train platforms. This is part of a broader push toward rail automation.
Platform screen doors, already common in major cities like Paris, Tokyo and Singapore, are physical barriers that separate passengers from train tracks until a train arrives and doors align to open simultaneously. These barriers offer many safety benefits including preventing people and objects from falling or being pushed onto the tracks.
According to Metro’s latest “World Class Transit” presentation, rail automation is a cornerstone of their strategic transformation plan. This comprehensive approach includes upgrading to communications-based train control (CBTC), updating railcars to be compatible with this new signaling system and introducing PSDs at stations…