It wasn't even an emergency. Good Parents keep an eye on their kids in these situations.

This is a most unfortunate situation.

I do believe that the MAX operator should have not left the platform and can find fault there - but I do not believe that the fault should amount to public humiliation and a termination of employment given the numerous circumstances involving equipment failure. I know that TriMet puts a lot of pressure on its Operators to keep vehicles moving, even when the equipment itself should not be on the road. (This is even more true on the bus system than the light rail system, and buses are often left stranded for an hour or more until TriMet finally sends someone to help.)

If this vehicle had a non-functioning door release, intercom, or radio - it should have been tagged and kept in the yard. Who's decision was it to release the train onto the mainline? That Operator - did he make the decision, or was he forced to the equipment? Or did he relieve another Operator and therefore had no choice in the matter but to relieve the last Operator, lock the cab and drive?

TriMet made a huge spectacle over this to cover its own rear end and there is a much larger story that TriMet wants to cover up - which is ever so typical of TriMet management. Management never screws up; if there is a screw-up, blame some low-level employee (generally an Operator). Frankly, Hansen ought to be put on trial over his mismanagement of TriMet; unfortunately TriMet reports to the Board of Directors who is appointed by the Governor - the Board consists mostly of political hacks who donated money to the Guv, they do not represent the public in any way, shape or form, and the Governor himself doesn't care about TriMet.

It's sad for a city that prides itself on citizen involvement and often cites Metro as a model of citizen governance, that we then have TriMet - an agency built specifically to EXCLUDE public participation.