100 MARTA train cars grounded

By Ariel Hart

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

One hundred of MARTA’s 318 train cars are grounded after a MARTA mechanic noticed a door open when it wasn't supposed to be, according to MARTA’s assistant general manager of rail operations, Rich Krisak.

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JOHNNY CRAWFORD/jcrawford@ajc.com One hundred of MARTA’s 318 train cars are grounded after a MARTA mechanic noticed a problem with the doors.

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After talking to the door supplier and a consultant, MARTA determined there was the potential a door could unexpectedly open in service, Krisak said. So, the agency decided to pull all of its cars of that type, the "312," from service.

MARTA discovered the issue Aug. 19 and shut down the cars "immediately after that," Krisak said.

He said he was not exactly sure what happened initially, but “My understanding is [the mechanic] was walking along a car and he noticed a door was open,” Krisak said. “They don’t just open by themselves. "

That car was standing still at the time, and no doors have opened unexpectedly while a car was in service, Krisak said.

MARTA spokesman Lyle Harris urged passengers to call 404-848-5000 to report any issues.

Grounding the trains has not affected service levels, Krisak said.

To keep enough trains running, MARTA has suspended preventive maintenance that would normally take several cars out of service on any given day. In addition, it usually keeps 36 trains in reserve to fill in when service trains break down, so those are available. And in general, MARTA has had leeway with its fleet since service cuts last year, Krisak said.

After this year's cuts, it will have a lot more. MARTA is in talks with the federal government to decommission perhaps 54 or more of its rail cars after service cuts that take effect Sept. 25, Krisak said.

MARTA and its vendor have identified what they think is the problem, a deteriorated component in the door circuit board. They are in the process of fixing it but do not know exactly when the cars will be back in service. “It’s not something we want to rush into,” Krisak said.

MARTA acquired the cars new about eight years ago.