HOUSTON -- When a METRORail train is involved in an accident, it's often the fault of the other vehicle's driver for making an illegal turn or running a red light. But a METRORail operator broke some serious safety rules and they were caught on tape, the KPRC Local 2 Troubleshooters reported Monday.

The station obtained video from cameras all over the train, which traveled on a Sunday afternoon.

The light-rail train ran a stop signal at a busy intersection near downtown -- a horizontal bar meant stop, but the driver kept going.

METRO said the train was also speeding throughout the route along Main Street and near the Museum District. It was clocked going as fast as 48 mph in a 35 mph speed limit zone.

Records showed the train operator was also driving with his cab door open talking to passengers, which is another major violation.

It all happened during one afternoon's train ride.

"He's endangering the lives of many Houstonians who ride the Metro," said Kristena Hackett, a METRO passenger.

METRORail supervisors agreed and filed paperwork to fire the train operator, Charles Lightfoot, for his "willing disregard for public safety," and said he should never be rehired.

Earlier this year, METRO leaders promised tough disciplinary action after the Troubleshooters uncovered METRORail operators running stop signals at intersections across town.

"I happen to think when a train runs a signal, it's not a casual event, it's a life-threatening event," said Dave Feeley, senior vice president of METRO operations.

So, what happened to Lightfoot? Houstonians are still paying him to work and he's still carrying METRO passengers across town.

The Troubleshooters spotted Lightfoot eating a sandwich in the driver's seat of his new job -- driving a METRO bus. They followed him on his north Houston route to downtown Houston.

In less than one hour, he ran a red light in Midtown, according to the Troubleshooters' video.

Even though he has a new job, he's committing the same violations, the station reported.

"He was never completely terminated because I put him back to work," Feeley said.

Feely is the METRO vice president who promised tough discipline for rail violators.

"We all make mistakes, as long as they're not repeated over and over and over again," he said.

Feely said a METRO supervisor riding on the train should have taken immediate action when he caught Lightfoot violating major safety rules. Because that supervisor only called in the violations to other supervisors, Lightfoot kept his job.

"Basically, Mr. Lightfoot's job was saved because a supervisor didn't do his job?" Local 2 asked.

"Yes," Feely said. "So, if there hadn't been a supervisor on the train, it would have been looked at in a whole different light."

METRO passengers did not like that answer.

"I'm shocked they hired him back because he's putting passengers in jeopardy," a passenger said.

"If he can't drive the monorail right, how are you going to drive a regular bus?" another passenger said.

"When you break the rules, you break the rules. He should have lost his job completely," a passenger said.

KPRC tried to contact Lightfoot, but was never able to reach him.

Meanwhile, METRO maintains that despite his questionable record driving a train, he is still a good bus driver. But it will investigate what the Troubleshooters caught on tape.

"He should not run a red light. I'm very concerned about it. I want to know where it was and I'll take appropriate action," Feeley said.