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Feds Order Amtrak To Turn On System That Would've Prevented Crash
McGruber writes: Last Tuesday evening, northbound Amtrak Northeast Regional train No. 188 derailed on a curve in Philadelphia, killing eight passengers. The train was traveling in excess of 100 mph, while the curve had a passenger-train speed limit of 50 mph. In response, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is issuing formal emergency orders that will require Amtrak to make sure automatic train control systems work Northbound through Philadelphia at and near the site of the derailment. The FRA is also requiring that Amtrak assess the risk of all curves along the NEC and increase the amount and frequency of speed limit signs along the railroad. FRA's emergency order is newsworthy because Amtrak's existing signal system could have been configured to prevent a train from exceeding speed limits, according to the Wall Street Journal.
I'm baffled that we just might get self driving cars before self driving trains.
Do I really have to state the obvious? It's on *rails*.
They were planted by the Illuminati of course.
We know what caused the crash, we do not know what was responsible for the cause. The PTC, however, would have prevented the speed, therefore, the crash.
You don't know that. If the train accelerated out of control because the engineer had a medical event then PTC/ATC would have prevented the crash. If it accelerated out of control because the throttle control system and/or brakes failed then PTC/ATC would not have mattered a whit.
Until we actually know both the how and the why all of these arguments are moot. That's my main point. This is a rush to judgment that's being driven by two factors: The 24 hour cable news cycle (how many different ways can we say, "We don't know anything new yet?") and political interests seeking to advance their cause while the public is paying attention to them.
I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
No, your correction is misleading. We _don't_ know what would have prevented the accident, the GP was entirely correct in saying that. You are right in saying that he confused ATC with PTC and shouldn't, but the idea that any automatically controlled speed limiting system would have prevented the accident relies upon several factors being ruled out, which have not yet been.
I entirely agree the GP shouldn't have said PTC, but implying that the headline wasn't misleading as a result is completely inappropriate.
You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
To be fair, Wilmington is chock full of HQs for corps chartered in Delaware (which are many) and is the financial capital of the northeast. There are a lot of riders, I think.
Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
Not including having to be at the airport early, check in bags, wait to pick them up, and then get a cab into the actual middle of town where the train station already is.
But good point.
Why the FUCK are my tax dollars going to support this idiot organization? Why the FUCK are my tax dollars being wasted on a train service that almost no one uses? If some tiny number of dumbasses cannot afford a car or refuse to just because they prefer to eat granola and hug trees, then let them PAY FOR IT THEMSELVES.
Of course, the incompetent democrat in the white houseopposes all common sense, but at least there is one party working for taxpayers instead of against us.
Instead of defunding Amtrak, maybe it's time to properly fund Amtrak. You seem worried about your tax dollars, but don't seem to mind the billions of them spent on subsidizing air travel and highways and even waterway traffic. What is really lacking in the US is a cohesive transportation policy.
But, hey, it's easier to shout "Defund Amtrak" then it is to actually fix the infrastructure and transportation problems in this country.