The Injury Board Commentary - Mass Transit (Airline, Cruise Ship, Train, Bus) - Latest Comments

A comment on Railroads Pushing to Repeal Safety Laws

Avenger — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:41:20 GMT

If you REALLY want to increase railroads safety, you'll push for more secure crossing restraints at roadway intersections and have law enforcement issue more sitations for drivers who insist on stopping on the railroad tracks

Also (but not quite) all train related injuries and fatalities occur in collisions with vehicles, almost invariably some idiot not paying attention or trying to beat the train across the juxtaposition point.

Yes , I agree that PTC is a good thing, but it is the answer for something that is not the major problem

A comment on Did You Know... Railroad Companies Are Fighting Safety Improvements?

Robert Pines — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:15:10 GMT

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railroads-get-5-more-years-to-add-crash-systems-in-proposal

A comment on Did You Know... Railroad Companies Are Fighting Safety Improvements?

Robert Pines — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:40:15 GMT

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Help me with the math here train crews ---the benefit ratio is 22:1 according to Matt Rose--BNSF---
How does the railroad figure this ratio? $454.5 million for payouts for
the death and destruction in five years without the proper safety
equipment which makes it pre-meditated murder I figure or $10 billion
with the proper safety equipment What about the next 10 years? What
about the RRs savings/earnings the years before now? Personally I think
a railroad track television channel would be much better for the people the trains run down like dogs.

A comment on Did You Know... Railroad Companies Are Fighting Safety Improvements?

Robert Pines — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:05:31 GMT

What's the odds of 5 train rear end collisions all having slow orders? I would think way up there against. The NTSB never mentions PTC in their phoney control your train drivers recommendation.

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A comment on Costa Concordia Passengers Need to Review Their Cruise Ticket Contract

D Mcphail — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:53:03 GMT

Good luck to all of those seeking compensation.
Who would think in this day and age that such a travesty could occur!
When reviewing the "safety" guidelines...I can only hope new laws will be implemented allowing the bridge crew to intervene and take over when the actions of the captain are no less than moronic!

A comment on The Captain Abandons His Ship? !!

Mike Bryant — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:01:24 GMT

Thanks for the perspective and background on this issue, I had seen a comment about it and was interested in what happened.

A comment on Federal Appeals Court Says No to Cruise Line's Attempt to Contract Away Liability

Gerry McGill — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:26:25 GMT

Brett, excellent post on an important recent appellate decision. I wonder why trial level Federal Judges continue to coddle the cruise industry?

A comment on Why Don't Railroad Companies Guard All Railroad Crossings?

Robert Pines — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 03:38:41 GMT

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VIRGINIA ---$4,487,023
CSX put in the lights but the tax-payers pay the railroad what the railroad wants since there is no invitation to bid as required by law. Virginia received almost $4.5 million from the Feds last year which the state is supposed to match 10% I believe.

Looking at the FRA inventory for this crossing the speed limit for trains is 20 mph not like 35 mph. 1,000s of vehicle crossing a day are shaved off the inventory over the years and like a 100 school bus crossings a day are shaved off.

The collision history of 14 collisions (all listed with train speeds under 20 mph) and 8 injuries would put the crossing way up there towards the top in collision history.
I find like two crossing signal projects for the $5 million in safety funds alloted last year in the state transportation plan. One for $940,000 for lights only when lights are taken out all the time when gates are installed. The railroad makes $900,000 on just that one. Ask the state where they and their railroad buds wasted the rest of the safety funds which they are experts at!!

Oh--- But the railroad needs 8 times the $5 million to raise a bridge so they can double stack the train cars (In transportation plan) No problem.
FROM: 103 Ft North of Rt. 360 TO: At NSRR Crossing #715210S
TOTAL COST $206,662
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Picadilly St.-Install Flashing Light Signals w/Bell FROM: At Intersection with Kent Street TO: at CSX RR Crossing #139448J
ROUTE/STREET PICADILY STREET (0000) TOTAL COST $940,000

A comment on Why Don't Railroad Companies Guard All Railroad Crossings?

Richard N. (Rick) Shapiro — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:17:37 GMT

I agree that railroad companies have a corporate responsibility to maintain crossings for safety. I recently came to a place where a fast moving train zipped across the crossing at 35 miles per hour. The only signage at this crossing is a cross buck that reads: Railroad Crossing. There are no gates protecting traffic from running up in front of the train, it's a recipe for disaster.

A comment on Why Don't Railroad Companies Guard All Railroad Crossings?

Robert Pines — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:09:28 GMT

I would be interested in a statewide class action against the state and railroad for mass misappropriation of the the Federal funds we pay and millions in safety money missing from the 25 cent vehicle registration ear marked for railroad safety. Talking billions in stolen equipment by railroads when lights are replaced with gates and the lights are stolen by the railroad. (Stand alone gates can be installed for 40% of the cost.)

And audit of the states own transportation plan shows how mis-spent OUR tax funds go.

The state guy LIES on how many crossings there are. 1000s of these crossings haven't seen trains for years. MANY with crossing lights with the tracks paved over.

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http://csx-sucks.com/SiteDist.pdf