This is why rail is bad

[gatorback]

NEWTON, Mass. - The operator of a commuter train was killed and several passengers were injured when the trolley she was driving slammed into the back of another train, derailing both, officials said.

Investigators did not know what caused Wednesday's wreck, which came hours after an elevated train derailed in Chicago, sending 14 people to hospitals. Officials there quickly blamed human error by the operator.

Outside Boston, 24-year-old Terrese Edmonds was killed and about 10 passengers were injured in the aboveground accident on the city's "T" system, said Joe Pesaturo, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

The two-car train Edmonds was operating struck the back of another two-car train approaching Woodland Station during the evening rush hour, Pesaturo said. The trains had about 200 passengers combined.

"The first one was stopped at a red signal and was ready to proceed to the station when it was struck," he said.

For hours, firefighters struggled to free Edmonds from the mangled wreckage. She was finally extricated early Thursday.

"It is my unfortunate duty to report the death of one of our employees," MBTA General Manager Daniel Grabauskas said, adding that it was a "miracle" that there weren't more fatalities.

One passenger was flown to a Boston hospital, and the other injured commuters were taken to nearby Newton-Wellesley Hospital. The hospital had eight train-wreck patients, none with serious injuries, spokesman Brian O'Dea said.

Federal investigators were on their way to the crash site to study the scene and interview witnesses, said Peter Knudson, a spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board. A full report is not expected for up to 18 months, he said.

Both trains remained at the crash site early Thursday, covered in tarpaulins. The MBTA was busing commuters around the scene.

In Chicago, authorities said a train operator apparently made two key errors in quick succession to cause a derailment that left passengers perched more than 20 feet above the ground.

"Everybody was screaming and hollering and you know, and praying for God," said 35-year-old Willie Jackson, who was aboard the train's second car when it derailed and leaned west off the tracks.

The operator failed to heed a red signal ordering him to stop, Chicago Transit Authority spokeswoman Noelle Gaffney said. After the four-car train went through the signal, it automatically activated a trip, which stopped the train.

But the operator moved the train forward again to a spot where the tracks weren't aligned, causing the rear end of the front car and the second car to derail but remain standing, with the other two cars still on the tracks, Gaffney said.

"He was going on the wrong tracks, or started to," she said.

Gaffney said there was still a possibility the aging transit system played a role in the derailment.

The operator, who has 31 years' experience, was cooperating with the investigation and will not be allowed to return to work until the probe is done, she said.

A total of 25 people were on the train, including one CTA employee. Some of the injured were put in ladder baskets and lowered to the ground, where they were put in ambulances. Others were led off the tracks via a nearby stairwell, officials said.

[Beloki]

Please,, Trains are still far safer than cars.........

[thelakelander]

lol.  How many deaths happen on a daily basis by automobile?  One rail death involved in a freak accident pales in comparison with the amount of people being scrapped off the streets after auto, motorcycle, truck and SUV collisions.

[gatorback]

I guess if they had airbags it would be better. They probably don't have seatbelts or safty glass.

[second_pancake]

Yet another great argument for the good ole bike

[gatorback]

A Bike?  In Boston? You're kidding right?  You'd be even flatter then a pancake pancake befor you got 1/4 mile. LOL

[thelakelander]

I'm considering biking to work.  My only problem is Southside Blvd does not have any bike lanes or sidewalks where I live and rush hour traffic merging on the Southside from I-95 is pretty heavy and quick. Its not exactly the best environment to ride a bike in.

[Downtown Dweller]

Missing bike lanes has been a long standing issue, well at least an issue for me since I moved to JAX. Whenever I complain some smarty pants tells me about the wonderful bike trails available. I love the bike trails, there is even a new one I haven’t tried that some neighbors have, but let’s face it a bike trail to no where gets me no where. We need bike lanes on the streets! I would bike one of my children to school downtown and finally stopped as it was juts too risky. I mean how crazy is it that I have to drive twelve blocks because we can’t bike safely? Better Jacksonville should = bike lanes, but alas all the money goes to the bus routes no one uses!!!!

[gatorback]

Oh yes, the bike lane topic is back.  Gezz, if we weren't so spread out then maybe we could afford bike lanes...damn urban sprawl.

[thelakelander]

Good question.  I would assume most of the newer systems are in excellent condition.  However, safety issues would definately be a concern in cities still operating 100 year old lines.

[second_pancake]

I'm considering biking to work.  My only problem is Southside Blvd does not have any bike lanes or sidewalks where I live and rush hour traffic merging on the Southside from I-95 is pretty heavy and quick. Its not exactly the best environment to ride a bike in.

Southside has a pretty wide shoulder.  I don't know where you're coming from, but from Phillips down to Beach (I think even beyond) the shoulder is as wide, if not wider, than the bike lanes.  The only problem is, while the speed limit is 45, most people drive in excess of 60 mph through there which is helluv frightening when you're on a bike doing 20.  I do ride Southside between Baymeadows and Deerwood and I've seen many others riding through there lately as well.  The I-95 merge is tricky as well as the JTB merge...people are freakin crazy through there!

GB, biking in Boston would work in lieu of the rail...which is the context of my comment...a response to the "why rail is bad" remark.  If rail is so bad and driving is so bad, then everyone should bike.  While death can occur, it's very rare that you'll experience anything more than a few broken bones colliding with another cyclist.  The greatest chance of severe injury would occur going downhill where speeds can be greater than 40mph and crashing all alone...without a helmet...into a concrete wall.

[gatorback]

I agree.  That is a good question.  Like the 1 person killed today on our rail systems( compared to say 10 traffic  fatalities, and no doubt the 100's sent to the hospital today from car accidents) is why rail is bad.  I guess the Subject of the thread should be "This is why rail is bad?"

[thelakelander]

I'm considering biking to work.  My only problem is Southside Blvd does not have any bike lanes or sidewalks where I live and rush hour traffic merging on the Southside from I-95 is pretty heavy and quick. Its not exactly the best environment to ride a bike in.

Southside has a pretty wide shoulder.  I don't know where you're coming from, but from Phillips down to Beach (I think even beyond) the shoulder is as wide, if not wider, than the bike lanes.  The only problem is, while the speed limit is 45, most people drive in excess of 60 mph through there which is helluv frightening when you're on a bike doing 20.  I do ride Southside between Baymeadows and Deerwood and I've seen many others riding through there lately as well.  The I-95 merge is tricky as well as the JTB merge...people are freakin crazy through there!

I live the neighborhood behind Target on Southside. Starting tomorrow, my new office will be located on Baymeadows, just east of 9A.  The only section I'm worried about is the I-95 merge.  In the morning, people drive like bats out of hell through there with no let up in the amount of cars speeding down the flyover.  I'm also not too crazy about the possibility of someone putting on their makeup, reading the paper or changing CDs, not paying attention and driving over into the shoulder, which is pretty narrow at that point.  These are things I see quite often while commuting down Southside to JTB in the morning.  All it takes is one spilled cup of coffee and someone biking will be taken out without even having a chance to take notice of what's driving up behind them.

[second_pancake]

I'm considering biking to work.  My only problem is Southside Blvd does not have any bike lanes or sidewalks where I live and rush hour traffic merging on the Southside from I-95 is pretty heavy and quick. Its not exactly the best environment to ride a bike in.

Southside has a pretty wide shoulder.  I don't know where you're coming from, but from Phillips down to Beach (I think even beyond) the shoulder is as wide, if not wider, than the bike lanes.  The only problem is, while the speed limit is 45, most people drive in excess of 60 mph through there which is helluv frightening when you're on a bike doing 20.  I do ride Southside between Baymeadows and Deerwood and I've seen many others riding through there lately as well.  The I-95 merge is tricky as well as the JTB merge...people are freakin crazy through there!

I live the neighborhood behind Target on Southside. Starting tomorrow, my new office will be located on Baymeadows, just east of 9A.  The only section I'm worried about is the I-95 merge.  In the morning, people drive like bats out of hell through there with no let up in the amount of cars speeding down the flyover.  I'm also not too crazy about the possibility of someone putting on their makeup, reading the paper or changing CDs, not paying attention and driving over into the shoulder, which is pretty narrow at that point.  These are things I see quite often while commuting down Southside to JTB in the morning.  All it takes is one spilled cup of coffee and someone biking will be taken out without even having a chance to take notice of what's driving up behind them.

While I agree, a dedicated bike lane would not make your commute any safer.  I ride down Baymeadows, both the section without and with bike lanes, in the mornings during rush hour, and have experienced drivers taking over the bike lane on several occasions.  It's an unfortunate price a cyclist pays when using their bike as a vehicle, in that 2 tons of steel will always win over 17 pounds of aluminum or carbon fiber.

[gatorback]

17 pounds?  What are you riding?  A tank? lol