Ok, I've read the report. One thing to keep in mind is that it says pretty much zilch about the CP Topanga collision -- it's just an overall review of all Metrolink safety policies and procedures. If you didn't know it was initiated as a result of Chatsworth, you really couldn't tell it from the report! It's also worth pointing out that it's written in such a politically correct tone that it's almost impossible to deduce that the panel sees anything at all wrong with anything.

However, a major point is "liquidated damages". As far as I can tell, the panel is saying that the contract with Connex (identified as OCSP "operations contract service provider" or some such thing, just so you can't easily tell what's going on) has a provision that on one hand provides for severe monetary penalties for violation, but on the other hand requires Connex to self report on violations!

The panel says this could sorta-kinda be a problem, because it gives Connex a big incentive not to find safety violations. Duh. But the whole report drones on in a way that you really have a hard time understanding this.

But this makes me wonder if this was a reason Connex might not have acted on the reports of Sanchez texting, as alleged by the victims' attorney. OPRRMS, I don't see how this gives Metrolink or Connex any kind of green light, and in fact it basically says there was a big problem in how Connex's contract set up an incentive for Connex not to find safety violations.