Slashdot Mirror
First UK On-Train WiFi Service Launches Monday
dave writes "UK train company GNER starts trials of the UK's first on-train wireless Internet access service. Currently only available on limited services and in First Class; if the trial is successful the service will be rolled out across the entire fleet in both Standard and First Class."
At least they TELL you it's something strange like lightning hitting the tracks. In reality the conductor probobly fell asleep while he was driving the train.
"It is not how things are in the world that is mystical, but that it exists." -Ludwig Wittgenstein
I will guarantee you if you put ethernet ports out, within hours they will be plugged with chewing gum. Its just the way people are. Most of us are pure pigs. Talk to any custodian of a public place if you don't believe me.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
I am genuinely mystified by the common practise of citing recnet rail crashes as, so far as I can tell, evidence of systemic failure in the railway system. The rail crashes and loss of life are naturally terrible events and wherever possible strenuous efforts should be made to eliminate the causes of them BUT BUT BUT - on average six people die every day on British roads.
It's a bad YEAR when six die on the rails. Even if it has deteriorated somewhat in recent years (and should therefore be given urgent attention), it's in a different league from the risks associated with road travel.
Yet you wait in vain to hear calls for public enquiries into the deadly state of the road transport system. Why is that? I'm not making a political point here, I'm genuinely amazed that these two situations exist: a dangerous transport system alongside one that is very much better with the latter attracting the 'we must make it safer' publicity.
It just doesn't make sense to me.
This is a very good point. It is also worth adding that if you are on a motorway and are involved in an accident with other cars the risk of death is very low because all the energy is travelling in the same direction regardless of speed. On the other hand, if a lorry is involved the risk of death goes through the roof. That freight should be on the rails... We need to shift back to rail rather than abandon it.
I have to stop before I get into a political rant about fuel tax etc. and lack of investment on rail...
I love stacking my barbecues in the shed at the end of summer - you can't beat a bit of grill on grill action.
Selby's a bit of a red herring here, but the inquiries into Ladbroke Grove, Hatfield and Potters Bar each concluded that systemic factors contributed to the accidents - poor maintenance of signals, poor maintence of points, poor maintenance and condition checking of rails, generally poor safety culture.
BBC URIs for the reports:
Hatfield
Potters Bar
Ladbroke Grove
I worked for Railtrack a few years back on a condition survey project, and we found at least one set of points which the contractor had signed off for five years when it was clear from a cursory inspection that the heaters had burned out five years back. If it was found that lots of road deaths were due to unsafe cars passing their MOTs there *would* be a massive outcry against the dodgy garages issuing such certificates.
I wish to God somebody would mod that up. I agree 100%. Lorries are a fucking nuisance and a menace to all other road users. There are enough laws about how lorries should be driven (eg keeping to their own lane, keeping below 60mph) but lorry drivers *never* obey those laws.
Also they tend to rely on their size to intimidate. In theory nobody is supposed to pull any sort of maneuver without looking first to make sure it won't force another road user to change speed or direction. But lorry drivers just don't give a damn. You'd better keep your wits about you when you're driving behind one of those things.
Taking long distance freight off the roads and putting it back onto rail where it belongs would be a major vote winner I reckon.