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Re: Metrolink Third Largest Source of Rail Fatalities
Author: BOB2
Date: 12-08-2008 - 14:23
This is an interesting spin on the interpretation of these results. Metrolink has been an unusual case, in that on a per mile and per passenger mile basis it actually has an exceptional record. These two extremely lethal incidents, skew this pretty dramatically. The causality of most of the other accidents and incidents have been a clear result of illegal trespassers and motorist failure to yield to an active traffic signal protecting them from a train.
One of the two incidents which skew this rate, as has been rightly pointed out, was a deliberate and willful criminal act, that could have just as well been perpetrated by terrorists, and could happen anywhere in the country. This murderous criminal perpetrated his act against Metrolink. The investigation of Chatsworth is likely to point several fingers on various causal factors, including oversight issues, and some issues with locomotive and car design, which appear to have contributed to the severe death toll.
The "presumed" probable initial cause at Chatsworth, running a controllng signal, was not a unique problem or danger at Metrolink, either. As I told the editorial board of one major newspaper, this accident could have happened in a dozen places, with similar circumstances, any day of the week. This is because we had failed to aggressively mandate the safety technologies available and able to prevent it. This applies to freight railroads, as well. Everyday there are incidents from running signals, most are minor, most do not lead to these types of accidents. But, we are just as close to doing the same thing with a hazmat freight train in a major urbanized area, with the potential for similarly high casualties. So this is not just a rail safety issue, it is a community safety, or even a national security issue, as well.
It was past time for the railroad industry to come into the modern age, applying the technologies we have to significantly reduce signal and train detection accident risks. As a result of the tragic events at Chatsworth, this is now Federal law.
One of the two incidents which skew this rate, as has been rightly pointed out, was a deliberate and willful criminal act, that could have just as well been perpetrated by terrorists, and could happen anywhere in the country. This murderous criminal perpetrated his act against Metrolink. The investigation of Chatsworth is likely to point several fingers on various causal factors, including oversight issues, and some issues with locomotive and car design, which appear to have contributed to the severe death toll.
The "presumed" probable initial cause at Chatsworth, running a controllng signal, was not a unique problem or danger at Metrolink, either. As I told the editorial board of one major newspaper, this accident could have happened in a dozen places, with similar circumstances, any day of the week. This is because we had failed to aggressively mandate the safety technologies available and able to prevent it. This applies to freight railroads, as well. Everyday there are incidents from running signals, most are minor, most do not lead to these types of accidents. But, we are just as close to doing the same thing with a hazmat freight train in a major urbanized area, with the potential for similarly high casualties. So this is not just a rail safety issue, it is a community safety, or even a national security issue, as well.
It was past time for the railroad industry to come into the modern age, applying the technologies we have to significantly reduce signal and train detection accident risks. As a result of the tragic events at Chatsworth, this is now Federal law.
