Bullet Train derails...

[zardoz]

...due to the strong (6.3 Richter) earthquake that hit the Japan area yesterday.

The following is a partial quotefrom today's Japan Times:

A bullet train on the Joetsu Shinkansen line, linking Tokyo and Niigata, derailed between Urasa and Nagaoka stations in Niigata Prefecture.

It was the first time a bullet train derailed since the Tokaido Shinkansen Line was launched in 1964.

East Japan Railway Co. said the first and ninth cars of the Toki 325 bullet train were tilting to one side, but that none of its roughly 150 passengers had been injured. The passengers later walked to Nagaoka Station under the guidance of railway officials.

JR East also temporarily suspended services on part of the Nagano Shinkansen Line linking Nagano and Tokyo.

Services on the Tohoku and Tokaido shinkansen lines were not affected.

[TH&B]

Wow, I wonder how fast it was going when it derailed, it could have been traveling very fast, I'm glad none was injured. It goes to show even the safest design railroad operation can have a derailment, even if it takes an earthquake to do it.

[AntonioFP45]

It's probably a great big deal over there as this line has an excellent safety record (unlike our U.S railroads in which derailments are unfortunately a common occurrence.)

At the same time though, I must admit it's not a fair compariso. Our so called "bullet train wannabe" ( Acela) shares the mainline with other trains as well and on the rest of Amtrak's routes the sheer amount of punishment exerted by our much heavier and longer freight trains must also be taken into account.

[martin.knoepfel]

As far as I know, the Japanes bullet train have not had any passenger killed since 1964. This shows what strict operating discipline brings.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by martin.knoepfel

As far as I know, the Japanes bullet train have not had any passenger killed since 1964. This shows what strict operating discipline brings.

I also shows what can be accomplished when the government funds a rail operation to have operational success, rather than failure as shown by Congressional funding of AMTRAK.

[TH&B]

That strict operating discipline includes never ever run a freight, overnight sleeper , mail train or any other kind of train on that track and NO SWITCHING. To me what it realy shows is that trains have the potential of being exeptionaly safe.
In this rare derailment the train leaned over towards the oppisite track and it was lucky that there was no train in the oppasite direction on this busy and high speed line.

[railman]

earthquakes will do that to even the best of us.