Amtrak train derails in Washington state

This will probably be the nail in the coffin for high-speed rails in this country.

 

Calling this high speed rail confuses the issue. It's not the Acela, which runs up to 140 mph. And much of the Pacific Northwest has been hostile to rail development of all types, including rejecting proposed construction of export terminals for coal, oil or grain. Classic NIMBY behavior and pandering on the part of politicians. And, Amtrak's ridership has never been higher.

Wait until the cause of the derailment is determined, THEN jump to conclusions.

 

The story had concerns from the mayor about injuries at grade crossings. That did not happen here. Reports I've read suggest an object was on the track, causing the derailment.

 

The Long Island Rail Road commuter trains run at 79 m.p.h. top speed. That's why grade crossings frequently have lights, horns, bells and gates.

 

They have lights, horns, bells and gates because of dumbasses who don't understand physics.

 

It's been like that for many years. I drove under that bridge many times when I lived in Lacey, which is just a few miles to the south, and the graffiti looked like that. I last lived there in 2005.
I'll be curious to see what they find caused this. First day of this controversial new route, which is far less scenic than the old route. Awful PR for Amtrak.

 

Only three fatalities reported as of my late local news. Amazing.

 

Human error strikes again.

 

First:

How did initial reports have six dead and then the count drop to three? That befuddles me. Yes, I know reporting is very dynamic in the early stages, and the original count probably came from a railroad person or Sheriff/EMS, but still, hell, how does that number get so screwed up?

[I've been around railroad derailments as body bags are zipped up.]

Second:

Ugh. People knew that was a bad curve, and wanted to fix it, but a straighter route was cut from the budget to save $400+ million.

Curve and emergency brakes played role in Amtrak crash | Daily Mail Online

 

Alex jones said it was an act of Antifa terrorism? Has that been confirmed by Fox and Friends yet?