I read the article and was quite distress at how
incredibly biased it was. The bias come from
ignorance,it seems. What the writer does not
know about railroad safety would fill volumes,
it appears. The writer, Steven Smith, wrote:
"For decades, the Federal Railroad Administration
had effectively banned modern European trains from
American mainline rail networks. European and Asian
manufacturers have been slimming down their rolling
stock for years to improve performance — energy
efficiency, braking and acceleration, even track and
train maintenance — while U.S. transit agencies were
stuck with bulked-up versions of sleek European cars,
weighted down and otherwise modified to meet FRA
regulations."

"Bulked up"?? Those FRA rules are written in rivers
of blood over decades and decades. I am disgusted, but
not surprised that the FRA may well cave in to political
pressure and allow flimsy and weak construction standards
to be accepted for American passenger rail cars.

Folks: passenger rail cars are "bulked up" to save lives
and minimize injuries in the event of collisions and accidents.
The present standards should not in any way be compromised.

OPB: Your thoughts, please.

Margaret