Let's lighten things up for a moment....
Normally the Democratic politicians are the most public transit savvy......but apparently not in Connecticut. Just like a crosswalk, the little bumpy section on a rail platform means something...
http://gawker.com/senator-holds-commuter-safety-presser-almost-gets-hit-1565073060/+orlove
There is a saying in London down in the Tube that says "Mind the gap please...mind the gap"
Glad no one was hurt but it is funny seeing what the subject was.
Thankfully he saved his chart.
Video is better:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/conn-sen-blumenthal-hit-train-rail-safety-press-conference-article-1.1762281
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/RAILROAD%20Images/ScreenShot2014-04-21at50758PM_zps42280953.png)
Sigh. Going deep philosophical on this clip - it speaks to why HIGH SPEED RAIL as in Obama's and Florida's plans will fail. Nobody, not even US Senators and Metro North politicos even know what the yellow line is for!!! Do you really think they are ready to book an overnight to JAX or ATL on a flying train? NOT!
Amtrak is nearly pointless with it's 15 trains to serve the entire nation mentality and gun to the head oversight. Until we find a way to fill all of the seats and start adding trains and double or triple the routes we have today, rail will remain a non-player in the passenger business outside of metro areas and a couple of corridors. Classic chicken and egg question, money then trains? Trains and then money? My feeling is you have to do it in increments, slowly winning back the traveling public.
Sorry this wasn't so light for those that remember what real intercity rail was.
Quote from: Lunican on April 21, 2014, 01:44:56 PM
Thankfully he saved his chart.
What cracked me up is that no one warned him it was coming.
Hey dude, can't you hear the engine bearing down on you? Are you too focused on the cameras and your charts?
As the other railroaders on here can tell you, NO he might not have heard the train. Doppler effects on sound and the fact that this is an electric train with uniform torque + coupled with high speed can spell death. This is even true of the high RPM diesels on Amtrak trains, my own certification to be trackside by Amtrak carries a warning that I have lost some hearing for high pitched sounds @ 59 years old (at least for a couple of more days-LOL). The horn and bell may have saved his life or at least saved him from one hell of a bruise. I have re-watched the clip and can only think nobody had time to verbalize a warning or if they did by the time he reacted the train was on him... Do they not have Station staff and radios or train control signals in the northeast corridor? GEEZE YOUSE GUYZ!