S70, as originally ordered with modifications in the center section per Metro Transit's needs for passenger flow, to the S700 in 2020. They entered into service on 15 December 2022. Incidents and crashes For a full year before the Metrorail system's opening, a program to prepare drivers to share Houston streets with the Metrorail trains was conducted, consisting of driver safety classes, community forums and public service announcements. By August, the system averaged six crashes per month, 20 times worse than the national average for light rail systems. The high rate of incidents gave rise to local derogatory nicknames among detractors such as the "Wham Bam tram" and "Danger Train." METRO has consistently blamed driver error as the cause of the high collision rate and the transit agency's police department regularly tickets motorists who cross paths with the train. An independent panel of transportation experts at Texas A&M University issued a report in 2004 finding no fundamental flaws with the Metrorail system, although this report did recommend minor adjustments to signal timing and signage. The 100th accident, as defined by METRO, occurred on August 10, 2005. In the judgement of METRO police, only two of these were the fault of the train operator. Most crashes resulted from drivers turning into the trains or running red lights. Following the Texas A&M report, METRO implemented four-way red lights at some crossings and other safety measures which led to a 75% reduction in incidents per train mile even as service ramped up. Critics have also noted the fact that the system is at-grade, while supporters contend that lack of federal funding due to political opposition made construction of a grade separated rail line unfeasible. Sociology and urban studies professor Stephen Klineberg argues that the high rate of crashes in Houston is attributable to the high rate of automobile driving and low rate of walking in Houston. See also List of METRORail stations Light rail in the United States List of United States light rail systems by ridership Light rail in North America List of tram and light rail transit systems Notes References External links GO METRORail METRORail – Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County Houston Metro Rail Development – interactive Facebook page (unofficial) Light rail in Texas Railway lines opened in 2004 Electric railways in Texas 600 V DC railway electrification 750 V DC railway electrification 2004 establishments in Texas