Train Wreck (San Diego, San Bernardino, Orange: violent crime, homes, buy)

[streetscenes]

Metrolink in so-cal is a great commuter service that has grown tremendously in the past few years. This accident points to one of the major problems with these commuter rail lines, they share track with freight trains. Hopefully sooner rather than later we will start to make the investment in the infrastructure so that we can build commuter and light rail passenger lines that run on dedicated tracks. Until then we need to make the immediate investment in updating the control systems for our rail lines, especially on the highly traveled rail corridors. This is the 21st century and we surely can increase the safety and take out some of the potential for human error as happened in this case.

[city414]

Originally Posted by MIKEETC

I don't know about possible failsafe systems at Metrolink, but there was an accident that occurred in Chicago in May, 2008 where an operator was warned of a danger but ignored the warning:

I don't know what the circumstances were in LA, so I can't say if we're looking at the same thing. I will say this is a terribly sad situation...

actually they tried to blame it on the engineer and did, chicago has an old faulty system in place and there have been numerous times where the switches moved under the track causing the derailment and many ppl who ride the subways and elevated trains can tell you this happened numerous times

[happ]

Attached is a report about a passenger who was in the train that crashed yesterday as well as the train crash in Glendale several days ago! He plans to take the same train to work on Monday [good for him!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us...=1&oref=slogin

[Mugsy]

I just heard on KNX 1070 that the train operator was text messaging 1 minute before impact...

Where I work (for LRT) that is a huge no-no when operating a train.

[missionhome]

The LA Times has the names of 21 victims. Please keep the families of these people in your prayers. Such a diverse group of people and the Simi Valley and Moorpark area of So Cal is going to be a sad place, many of the victims lived there.

Christopher Aiken, 38
Dennis Arnold, 75
Dean Brower, 51
Alan Buckley, 59, of Simi Valley
Yi Chao, 71
Spree Desha, 35, of Simi Valley
Walter A. Fuller, 54, of Simi Valley
Tim Hammersly, 45, of Simi Valley
Jacob Hefter, 18
Kari Hsieh
Ernest Kish, 47, of Thousand Oaks
Gregory Lintner, 48
Paul Long, 54, of Moorpark, passed away at hospital
Manuel Macias Jr., 31, of Santa Paula
Aida Magdaleno, 19
Charles Peck, 58
Howard Pompel, 69, of Moorpark
Donna Remata, 49, of Simi Valley
Doyle Souser, 56
Maria Villalobos, 18
Atul Vyas, 20

-Not all residences and ages are known and this is only 21/25 victims.

God Bless you all

[city414]

Originally Posted by Mugsy

I just heard on KNX 1070 that the train operator was text messaging 1 minute before impact...

Where I work (for LRT) that is a huge no-no when operating a train.

source?

[VillageLife]

Sorry to hear about all these victims,sympathy to all the families

[VillageLife]

Originally Posted by city414

source?

It was on the radio all day

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by city414

source?

CBS 2 is saying he was texting also. Apparently he was talking to teenagers (weird for an adult) that aspire to be conductors themselves.

cbs2.com - EXCLUSIVE: Engineer In Deadly Metrolink Crash Sent Text Message Just Before Collision

[brikag]

Originally Posted by missionhome

CBS 2 is saying he was texting also. Apparently he was talking to teenagers (weird for an adult) that aspire to be conductors themselves.

cbs2.com - EXCLUSIVE: Engineer In Deadly Metrolink Crash Sent Text Message Just Before Collision

Here's the story.... Those teenagers are fans about trains, so please bear with me.

Our friends have a teenager that goes to Chatsworth High. He is friends with the teenage boy that is very into trains. There are groups like this all over the US. He lives near our condo complex that is near Chatsworth park that has a nice view of the trains that pass by. Any ways.... the group knows the engineer personally and he's their mentor. Remember mentors? It's not wierd for an adult.

That afternoon the engineer text messaged the group he'll pass by the park area around that time. And two responded to him that they'll be there to wave at him. They didn't get that chance that day.....

Now the question lies, did he text message them back while operating? We do not know at this time. But the time codes off the groups' cells show that they recieved the message from the engineer 10-15 minutes prior to the tragedy.

It's a horrible tragedy. But let's not disgrace the engineer with such remarks as above. He is human. He was a mentor to these aspiring teenagers that have genuine interests with the train system. Let him RIP with dignity and not slander. He may have made a very tragic mistake, but dragging his very good name with an innuendo like that is so impolite. For us, as concern citizens, and for the family members of the passengers and Metrolink, please keep the sneers to a low or to yourselves.

That's my two cents.....please don't ask for change!