LAist: Metro Subway Train Travels On Wrong Tracks

Militant Angeleno

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:30:06 -0800

kifbox: You claim to be an expert on things you don't really know (like a typical transplant, right?) Srsly, here is what is required for Metrolink to have a safety system: 1) Dedicated right-of-way directional tracks. First off, eastbound trains run east, westbound trains run west, each has their own dedicated track. The problem with Friday was that the line that runs through the tunnel is single track (the UP train was occupying it) and the Metrolink train failed to stop to let it pass. Widening the Santa Susanna tunnel to double tracks would allow two trains in opposite directions to run interrupted and minimize any need for switching tracks. 2) Electrification. Each Metrolink train would have to be run by electricity, whether by an electric locomotive, or each railcar has its own propulsion engine (like the Red Line or the Long Island Railway). The electric system not only provides a power source, but a conduit by which the control signals are delivered. It's even more dangerous to have a conventional diesel locomotive equipped with a radio-controlled system (ask any prospective terrorist and they'll have a field day with the possibilities). Betcha never even thought of that. 3. Dedicated, segregated right-of-way. No freight trains, no Amtrak, strictly Metrolink trains on the system. Of course, even with all the money in the world, additional right of way would have to be purchased to allow segregated freight, intercity and commuter tracks. If you lived near the tracks, would you give up your house to build another set? The Metro Rail system has all of the above. Thing is though, that system is only 74 miles of routes. Metrolink is over 450 miles of routes. In short, what you're looking for, even if the money existed, hypothetically speaking, is a totally new rail system, The reason why Metrolink was created in the first place was to implement a commuter mass transit system in the region using existing railroad track, existing diesel locomotive technology and existing infrastructure, using off-the-shelf passenger cars, for an affordable price and an extremely quick construction time (remember the Antelope Valley stations put into use after the Northridge Quake? Took three days, as opposed to the 15 years projected pre '94.

kifbox

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:51:42 -0800

Wow, lookit Militant Angeleno with the "Standard Metrolink Answer #1" on why it has no safety control system in place..."it's just too gosh darn expensive". Well spoken! What's the over/under on the system now when they are looking at billions (with a B) in lawsuits smarty-pants? My money is on a safety system in less than a year.

Militant Angeleno

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:11:22 -0800

The train went down the wrong route but not the wrong directional tracks. The switch at Wilshire/Vermont was simply not thrown and the Purple Line train headed into Red Line territory. No one got hurt or would get hurt. For those of you not aware, the Metro Rail *is* equipped with a train control infrastructure that disallows head-on collisions. It would take a deliberate manual override of the system to cause one. That system has been in place in the 15 years the subway has been in operation. The trains themselves are semi-automated in that if they go too fast, for example, the system slows them down (to keep them on schedule and to avoid a rendezvous with the train in front of it). Metrolink, which travels on mainline railroad tracks and is regulated by FRA regulations and mainline railroad CTC signalling, does not have a train control infrastructure in place. There have been arguments calling for the implementation of such a system, but due to the shared nature of Metrolink trackage, and the fact that unlike Metro Rail, it is not electric nor has dedicated directional tracks on all its routes, makes it currently infeasible.

weston deboer

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:01:21 -0800

they break down sometimes and they just have to travel on the "wrong" side of the tracks sometimes. no Big Deal.

cshells

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:38:32 -0800

I think the biggest disservice a post like this does is perpetuate a fear mentality. Right now, we need to stop being dependent on our cars. The more we generate reasons to not use public transportation, the more we harm the global community. I am a fan of this site. But, I have to say, I am not 100% convinced that your coverage of this accident is the most responsible reporting you could have done. You have consistently been a supporter of public transportation, cycling, critical mass… meaning: getting out of our cars. It is my opinion that you have crossed the line, albeit barely, where your reporting has a lot of potential in generating fear (i.e. photos of the accident, this post), but barely mentioning the thousands of ways the MTA ensures our safety everyday, or demanding a change in hiring practices, or having an editorial on why this accident should not prevent people for continuing using the metro. And, I know it could be argued that you would provide the same coverage to an airplane crash. But the difference is that there aren't alternatives to me going from LA to NYC, so I accept a level of "danger" in flying. There is one easy alternative to not using public transportation, my car, which is the one place we are trying to get people away from. I do think that this error is something that needs to be addressed. We do need to demand that these employees are not putting lives at risk. But, creating an environment of fear mongering is not helping. The press used to take the role of helping to invoke change by questioning those in charge and being an advocate for the people.

DrSadrieh

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:13:25 -0800

I find it amusing that more people aren't enraged about this kind of error. This has idiocracy written all over it. As a surgeon, I understand the concept of "there is no room for error". This is not such a difficult task. I consider occupations where you are trusted with the well being of other people, i.e. surgeon, police officer, fire fighter, train conductor, bus driver; as professions where there is no room for error. If something faults or goes bad, that is a different discussion, but situations like the crash are absolutely unacceptable and should be handled as involuntary man slaughter. The fact that our society has become so numbed and dull that enraged responses and corrections to stupidity like this does not happen is unacceptable. People are too busy worrying about what happened on their favorite TV show and what they are going to buy when they get to the mall. Sad, shocking and embarrassing. I only hope that more American's wake up, step up and speak out, letting their "employees" (i.e. public officials, tax paid employees, and government officials) know that THIS sort of crap CANNOT happen again and WILL NOT be tolerated. Or am I being to abrasive by hurting someone's feelings?

Hindinwood

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:27:54 -0800

#1 I lived in NY for several years and never even heard of this happening. Considering the unfortunate timing, I think there's more than enough cause for concern. In a time when lots of people are advocating for the 3 hour train to SF and the Subway to the Sea, this (and Friday) is the last thing we need.

Emoney

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:08:15 -0800

Funny, but I've been taking the metro rail twice a day for over a year now and have never heard of a train going down the wrong tracks. Large cities have more extensive track routes, the Red and Purple lines only have two options - either go straight ahead or North (if you are going Westbound). Both lines share one track at the Wilshire/Vermont station (going East and West), so any mistake of the arrival/departure timing could end up being a serious one.

paul

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:47:20 -0800

Funny, this sort of thing has happened to me often in other large city's subway system, yet everyone acts like it is not that big of a deal and no reason to make an inflammatory blog post recalling a recent tragedy. Funny.