The Regional Transportation District shut down train service and began running bus shuttles along the A Line Friday morning after someone stole copper wiring along the rail corridor, disabling the agency’s anti-crash system for trains.
The thefts occurred early Friday morning, triggering four crossing gates at Steele and Quebec streets to go into automatic closed safety mode, the agency said in a release. RTD is providing bus service between Union Station and the Central Park Station in Denver as it works to resolve the issue.
The stolen copper wires are part of RTD’s computerized system that prevents trains from colliding, speeding or passing through crossings without the signals activating. The wires connect to a low-voltage system that powers the signals at rail crossings.
Friday’s disruption is the latest in a long line of copper thefts along RTD’s tracks. Last summer, the transit agency was struck a dozen times over a 10-day period. Overall last year, nighttime thefts of copper wiring along RTD disrupted train service 21 times between April and October, with thieves escaping with metal worth about $110,000.
Related Articles
Denver takes aim at copper wire thefts with new rules. Will it see the same success it did with catalytic converters? Night thefts of copper wire worth $110,000 disrupted RTD trains 21 times since April Copper wire thefts disrupt RTD rail service in metro DenverThe FBI has been monitoring copper thefts for more than a decade as demand for the metal soars, providing thieves with a motive and a tidy profit.
In June, the Denver City Council passed an ordinance forbidding scrap metal recycling dealers from paying cash for certain materials that include copper, bronze, brass and aluminum. The goal is to give thieves fewer places to sell their stolen wares.
RTD on Friday asked the public to share any information about suspicious behavior on or near the system’s tracks by calling 303-299-2911 or texting 303-434-9100. The agency warned that trespassing on tracks is dangerous and deadly, including the risk of electrocution from exposing and handling copper wires.
Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.
Hence then, the article about early morning copper wire theft forces rtd to shut down segment of a line was published today ( ) and is available on The Denver Post ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Early morning copper wire theft forces RTD to shut down segment of A Line )
Also on site :