In August, 2009, a document purporting to be an audit of Metrolink and Connex Railroad's safety procedures was mailed with a short note to Metrolinkrider.com's P.O. Box in Valencia. The note said that sender worked for a Metrolink contractor and did not want to be identified, but wanted the public to know about Metrolink's failure to pass an audit right after the Chatsworth tragedy. We were skeptical at first, thinking it my be a hoax, so we contacted the PUC. They verified the authenticity of the documents that we post here.  We do not know who sent this, nor would we tell even if we knew, because we respect the privacy of others. Who ever mailed these documents to us, we thank you. During the week of January 12, 2009, an inspection of the Connex/Metrolink Railroad Efficiency Testing Program records for operating managers was conducted at the Metrolink Operations Center, in Pomona, California. The purpose of the audit was to determine the integrity of the Connex/Metrolink program, and to ensure that tests being performed and recorded were in accordance with their program. The audit discovered numerous instances of manager-entered data that adversely affected the report's calculation of physical test numbers, having the effect of numbers inflation, but also the type of tests performed. Simply put, Metrolink and Connex "cooked the books" when it came to safety.  For example, Metrolink failed to test employees for compliance  with GCOR Rule 1.10 (electronic devices). What is GCOR Rule 1.10?  The General Code of Operating Rules (GCOR) are standard rules which all railroads in the United States follow. Here is the actual rule: GCOR 1.10 Games, Reading or Electronic Devices Cellular Phones During normal operations, cellular phones must be turned off and ear pieces removed: When employees are on a moving train (includes supervisors). When members of your crew are on the ground performing duties related to train movement, switching, performing air tests, riding equipment,providing inspection of passing trains, assisting in preparation of their train or fouling the track (within four feet of nearest rail of a track).  When other employees are performing safety related duties associated with your train. Metrolink was made aware soon after the crash that the engineer of the train that crashed was sending text messages from his cell phone when the crash occurred. Even though Metrolink (and the general public) was aware of this, Metrolink/Connex failed to test for compliance with this rule even after the accident! Here is the exact language that the audit found: Failure to conduct tests of employees for compliance with GCOR Rule 1.10 (electronic devices) The audit found some other disturbing things as well.  For example: Records indicated multiple managers conducting the same tests on the same employees (causing test data to be improperly recorded and inflated). Records indicated multiple managers recording the same test failures on the same employee(s) at the same time and location, i.e.; testing one employee, then stating it to be the wrong employee, and then reporting it on the correct employee, without discarding the original test data entered. Records revealed tests were recorded on train(s) and/or employees(s) that were not, actually operating at the time testing managers recorded tests. Note: This is "technically" true.  The train in question left the station approximately at 1:00 PM.  The PUC uses military time and to them that is 1300.  Because the test that was done was documented at 1:00 that meant 1:00 AM to the PUC.  No Metrolink trains operate at 1:00 AM and as such, this was a "technical" error.  We were advised of this error and we have presented this information in order to be accurate.  We thank Keith Millhouse (Chairman of the Metrolink Board) for the correction. Records indicated failure to conduct tests "spread over all days of week and nights in approximate proportion to the hours of train operation on any territory." To see the complete report click here. To post comments, please go to our BBoard and post your comments under the Metrolink Safety Department heading.  To go to the BBoard click here.