MidlandMike Some states do have rail safety expets, and if they don't have, they can (as I said before) hire consultants as their own safety advocates. The liability ultimately falls on the states.
Some states do have rail safety expets, and if they don't have, they can (as I said before) hire consultants as their own safety advocates. The liability ultimately falls on the states.
Liability is what scares them - they want the control of ownership, but not the responsibility of liability.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
I like how the story states, "Vermont owns the route of Amtrak's Downeaster." Um, no; no it doesn't. The Downeaster doesn't even go through the State of Vermont. Not even close. As in 60+ miles from the nearest Vermont border.
MidlandMike,The states have plenty of skin in the game. After all, they bought all that RoW and it will forever be off the tax rolls. No state has rail safety experts on staff. It's silly to think that each state will have to create their own version of the FRA just to satisfy...what, exactly?
The states buy the rail lines and then bring in operating companes to run the trains. Its the state's creation. The get the benefit of public transportation, however, they seem to think they should have no liability for its safe operation. They can hire third party contractors to come up with safety plans. The states are avoiding responsibility if they simply let the operators write their own plans. How objective or critical will the operators be of their own plans. The states need to have some skin in the game.
Safety culture,
MC,
What is that? IMO that seems to be of low priority and a consequence of mistakes made by those in charge of MOW activities at least those in charge on the NEC.
My track foreman friend on the subdivision near me would have none of that. His crew were precious people and he demanded they stand down while a train was approchng.
I witnessed that severql times and thought the man was a step or two ahead of the game.
Norm
Well of course they are gonna object. Bus people and political hacks trying to railroad is an accident looking for a place to happen. Maybe now that FRA is pushing these clowns hard they might look hard at the failure that FTA is and make those it is overseeing more accountable to the FRA standard, not the "anything goes" typical FTA pass???
As far as safety culture and discipline goes, FTA cannot hold a candle to FRA.
WASHINGTON — What would seem to be a routine Federal Railroad Administration safety rule-making is being opposed by officials who are usually the agency's natural allies: state railroad authorities. As a result of their opposition, plus orders ...
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2017/12/27-state-safety-plan
Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine
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