Unexpected changes to their radio communication compromised the efforts of train operators and firefighters in Washington D.C trying to rescue passengers trapped in a smoke-filled train on January 12, a Metro train official said on Thursday.

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The Metro transit's top manager, Jack Requa, said the U.S. capital's fire department modified its radio system without telling his agency of the changes. He said the new encryption in the radio system rendered the devices almost useless.

Requa added the glitches were fixed after Metro checked the site where firefighters placed modifications, saying the firefighters' radio units are now working properly.

On January 12, a woman died and dozens others were treated in hospitals after they were trapped in a train coach was quickly filled with smoke. An power malfunction ground the train to a halt inside an underground track near a busy transfer station. The National Transportation Safety Board has yet to determine the exact cause of the malfunction.

A city spokesman fire officials modified their radios in December and that the attention of Metro transit was called when the problem surfaced. He said the radios at L'Enfant Plaza are the only units that had a problem working with encrypted radios.

Metro also announced on Thursday ten steps that are being taken following the deadly malfunction. These include setting more emergency drills and clearly indicate in signs outside rail cars which doors should be opened in an emergency. Transit authority also considers installing more smoke detectors in trains.

Metro train operators will be ordered to switch off air intake as soon as a train slows down due to smoke. Pictures and witness accounts describe smoke filling the train cars while passengers waited to be rescued. Safety authorities also noted difficulties in the tunnel's ventilation facility, which should have expelled the smoke and take in fresh air.