Saturday morning I read Dennis Hamill’s NY Daily News story, based on an interview with a grieving father whose son, a 45 year-old father of two himself, died needlessly in the Amtrak derailment. I want to tell this dad, he is absolutely right. His son didn't have to die. In so many ways, this accident, or outcome, was avoidable. 

Topics: Railroad safety issues, commuter, Train accidents, injured passengers, amtrak

 

They knew what to do, but chose not to do it

 

Even as we try to sort out what lead Amtrak #188 to accelerate into a curve in Philly, which required deceleration, we are reminded that the very railroad which is supposed to be the prototype for safety for all others, is not keeping up. 

Topics: Passenger railroad injuries, Railroad safety issues, commuter, reporting safety concerns, Train accidents, injured passengers, NTSB, amtrak

Topics: Railroad safety issues, commuter, Train accidents

Metro North's most recent disaster involving an SUV and a commuter train at a crossing in Valhalla, is also its most deadly in its 30 year history. And it could have been avoided. 

We will never know what was going through the driver’s mind when she chose to drive forward across the tracks, instead of reversing out of the crossing. However, unfortunately, accidents of this type occur all too frequently. Rarely do they come with such loss of life.
 
As I write this, five passengers and the driver of the SUV, which caused the accident, are reported dead. At least 15 more passengers have reportedly suffered severe injuries including amputations, burns and smoke inhalation.
 
When looking at this train accident, the first question is, “What happened?” And the next of course, is, “How do we avoid it from happening again?”
 
Because these types of accidents are well known to occur, the railroad industry has responded and made available various devices to minimize the potential for such an accident. While not required by Federal Railroad Administration regulation, the Long Island Railroad long ago put in place at some of its crossings sensors on the crossing gates to send a signal and allow train dispatchers to know of potential issues at a crossing. Specifically, when the gate comes down against an obstruction, a signal is sent so that the train can be alerted to either slow down or at a minimum be made aware of a potential issue.  
 
Metro North on the other hand, has no such sensors on any of its crossing gates in, any of the three states in which its trains operate. Out west, many of the busier freight crossings have video, both live and recorded, but this is another tool which Metro North has not availed itself of. 
 

Topics: Passenger railroad injuries, Railroad safety issues, commuter

Topics: Rights of Railroad workers, Railroad safety issues, commuter