VRE hit vehicle has taken as much as 2 hours delay
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/VAVRE/bulletins/1778e2b
As long as there are grade crossings on commuter routes, and less-than-fully-competent rubber-wheeler pilots driving across them, there will be grade crossing accidents and attendant delays.
The, 'Shoot from the hip,' knee-jerk reaction is to demand elimination of all grade crossings. Anyone have a few quadrillion dollars laying around?
Or we could demand that all rubber wheeler pilots meet aircraft pilot standards. Problem is, planes crash, too.
Or we could do what was done in Japan half a century or so ago. Under the law, anyone inconvenienced by a grade crossing accident could sue the responsible party for damages. That includes that train's passengers, the passengers waiting for that train at stations between it and its destination, passengers on other trains delayed by the crash and investigation...
Now there is a real incentive to avoid being part of a grade crossing collision.
Chuck
<h3 ""="">From VRE<h3 ""="">This Morning’s Fredericksburg Line Delay’s
We would like to apologize to everyone who was affected by the delays on the Fredericksburg Line this morning. As most of you know, VRE Train 304 (Departs Spotsylvania at 5:23 am) struck a vehicle at the Brent Point Road crossing. Thankfully, there were no injuries, but the vehicle ended up fouling track 3, while our train was sitting on Track 2.
With no trains able to go around the scene, we let riders know the delay could be significant and to consider other options for the commute this morning. We were originally going to simply move all of our trains back south to Spotsylvania and get everyone back to their origination stations/cars, but CSX was able to get the track clear and we were able to move Train 304 up to Quantico. This allowed everyone to detrain at Quantico, move Train 304 out of the way, and then bring 306 and 308 north. Since many riders decided to head back south and either take the day off or telework, PRTC provided buses from Quantico to shuttle everyone back to the southern stations.
As always, we will hold a debrief meeting on this incident to look for areas to improve the response and recovery. We would like to thank our partners at CSX, Amtrak, and Keolis, as well as the first responders from Stafford County and the Virginia State Police for their efforts to resolve the incident as quickly as possible. Special thanks to PRTC for being flexible enough to get us 7 buses on short notice to help take care of our passengers.
This afternoon, we will operate on an “S” schedule for the Fredericksburg Line. That means only the trains designated with an “S” on our schedule will operate. Those trains are 301 (Departs Union Station at 12:55 pm), Train 305 (Departs Union Station at 3:25 pm), Train 309 (Departs Union Station at 4:40 pm), and Train 313 (Departs Union Station at 6:00
tomikawaTTAs long as there are grade crossings on commuter routes, and less-than-fully-competent rubber-wheeler pilots driveng across them, there will be grade crossing accidents and attendant delays. The, 'Shoot from the hip,' knee-jerk reaction is to demand elimination of all grade crossings. Anyone have a few quadrillion dollars laying around? Or we could demand that all rubber wheeler pilots meet aircraft pilot standards. Problem is, planes crash, too. Or we could do what was done in Japan half a century or so ago. Under the law, anyone inconvenienced by a grade crossing accident could sue the responsible party for damages. That includes that train's passengers, the passengers waiting for that train at stations between it and its destination, passengers on other trains delayed by the crash and investigation... Now there is a real incentive to avoid being part of a grade crossing collision. Chuck
Will that be a part of the 'Lawyers Full Employment' bill?
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
The location was actually Arkendale, several miles north of Brooke. Visibility at that location is very good. It's hard to understand a reason for this accident.
Tom
BaltACDWill that be a part of the 'Lawyers Full Employment' bill?
No, it will be part of the vastly expanded mandatory pro-bono requirement under the "Fair Access to Legal Care" bill that can be easily derived from 103 HR 3600 (text and link to PDF available here)
Best tort-reform bill I think was ever written, once you make some minor, consistently-referential changes in its language.
Yet another one:
http://www.wbtv.com/story/34687416/train-tractor-trailer-collide-in-gaston-county
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
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