Great comment on the Trimet Facebook page regarding the MAX fail

Randy Mckee A lot of money was spent so this wouldn't happen. Here are your own facts curious what happened? The MAX system has rail-switch covers, most with heaters, to prevent snow and ice accumulation on the switches.
Ice caps, hard plastic caps that covers a portion of the overhead wire, are along all MAX lines east of the Willamette River and at both rail yards.
All trains are outfitted with pantograph heaters, which are activated when there is frozen precipitation to help prevent ice buildup on the lines. (The pantograph is the arm that reaches from the top of the train to the overhead power line; the heaters help keep the pantograph’s contact point warm, helping prevent ice build-up.)
If necessary, four to six trains will run after normal operating hours on the entire 52-mile system to keep the overhead power line from accumulating ice. If riders are at the station during these off hours, we will allow them to board.
Six light rail vehicles have heated ice cutters installed that can shave approximately 1/32 inch of ice off of the power wire. The cutters are mounted on a second pantograph and can be raised and lowered as needed. Speed is restricted to 35 mph for the trains outfitted with ice cutters. They can make two round trips around the system before the ice cutters need to be sharpened.