Metrolink 111 UP Leesdale Local Accident Tribute Video

[railfunny]

President Bush has signed a bill into law with mandates PTC (automatic train stop) on all passenger corridors, and funding improvements for Amtrak and mass transit.

With these improvements, a disaster like Metrolink 111 should never happen in the USA again.

[BNSFbrian]

I would like to know the cost comparisons for PTC vs. adding an additional track for areas such as the UP Coast Line with its tunnels, trestles, and etc.

[HoblikBrno]

Why not separate track for people?

[essexmt]

It looks like congress is ready to pass a bill requiring the installation PTC (Positve Train Control/Automatic Stop), and everyone agrees that PTC would have prevented this accident.

Too late for the victims of Metrolink 111, but should save the lives of others in the future.

[railfunny]

The bill just passed the Senate 74-25 (already had passed the House), a veto proof majority.

[DavidGilmore]

You're conflating two thoughts. One: yes rail travel is the safest and we should have more tracks and safer systems. Yes, more people should ride the train. Two - Sanchez was clearly guilty of reckless operation of a motorized vehicle. He is not to be exonerated of that even posthumously.

[railfunny]

Many railroaders think that Sanchez must have passed out right before the accident. Texting is against the rules, but many engineers do it, just not very often with railfans.

He was placed on leave in the past for issues related to diabetes. He could have had a stroke or other medical event.

Check out the AP video titled "LA Train Engineer Faced Challenges in Last Years" for more info.

Let's not demonize Sanchez when the cause of the accident has yet to be determined by the NTSB.

[espeeboy]

All fatality/passenger mileage stats taken from actual DOT/BTS published reports in a 10-year sampling period from 1996-2005:

Total Passenger Rail (rider) Fatalities: 72 (just over 7 a year)

Total Passenger Rail miles traveled (Amtrak and Commuter): 145,011,000,000

Fatalities per 1 billion passenger miles: 0.497

Total Highway Fatalities (driver/passenger): 379,117 (average 37,912 a year)

Total Vehicle Miles traveled: 27,615,000,000,000

Fatalities per 1 billion passenger miles: 13.729

[espeeboy]

So doing the math, based on miles traveled means you are 27.6 times more likely to die in a vehicle on the highway than you are as a passenger on a train.

REVISED TRANSLATION - NOT AS DRAMATIC BUT STILL, RIDING THE TRAIN WILL ALWAYS BE SAFER.

[175MPH]

This information is over three years old and worthless. Also it fails to account the hundreds of rail crossing deaths each year. Please revise and submit asap.

[espeeboy]

How does 10 years of research = worthless? Do you think the highway fatality numbers include road worker and pedestrian deaths?!? After reviewing all of your super helpful replies, me thinks I am dealing with someone who just doesn't get the big picture.

Wait, I know you, you're the cussing road rage guy stuck in 7-day a week rush hour traffic pissed off on why you solo in your $4 a gallon gas automobile is not moving anywhere...

[175MPH]

Sorry you were not able to come up with the data we needed. Thanks for trying though, the historical perspective is always an interesting read. After reviewing your postings, me thinks I am dealing with someone who is not living in the here and now. Wait, I know you, you're the guy on the metrolink, stuck in the sweat filled compartment, enjoying the sounds of 15 different cell phone calls around you while you try to find a place to sit... hehe. Sorry to bum you out but my commute is 7 miles. :(

[espeeboy]

I am now convinced, 175mph is the speed you drove while bypassing (read drop out) high school and/or college. Your points don't even make sense and barely make a dent if you're trying to support your argument that driving is safer. Looking at your YT profile with all of the favorited train videos, why the hell are you attacking the safer better passenger rail stats in favor of supporting "safer" highway methods of travel?!? Undeducated and a HYPOCRIT - the perfect idiotic combo.

[railfunny]

What's the difference between a railfan and a rail hater?

Railfans have stuff to show for their hobby, such as friends, videos, photo's, and etc.

All rail haters have is a bunch of whining. Why bother looking at train videos if they don't like them. Also, do these guys have a life? 90% of the rail haters I've seen have zero videos on youtube except for ones in which they look into a webcam and call railfans names.

[175MPH]

What's the difference between a railfan and a rail hater?

Rail haters dont text engineers operating a locomotive with 300 passengers.

[espeeboy]

Right, like you have admitted, Rail Haters (in this case male) don't text engineers on the RR or friends or girls for that matter because they sit at home with no life all day in front of their computer on youtube waiting to post yet another uneducated comment. In fact, they are so dumb and out of touch with how this work, they don't realize that the FRA and most government agencies don't release national number statistics until at last a year to two years down the line.

[175MPH]

So are you suggesting that they should have never said anything and hoped that nobody would have figured out the engineer was texting boys while he was operating the engine??

[MetraF40C607]

I'm saying that instead of making this situation ten times worse than it already was, they should've kept it to themselves. I'll say it again. The entire country is feeling the ripple effects of that. No, you ARE NOT supposed to be texting while operating a train. However, some railroads have now moved to the stance that while on the job you are no longer to be on the phone. That includes if you're in the yard office, walking to your train....etc.

[175MPH]

well had they not said anything who knows if they would been able to determine the accident cause (not that the texting was 100%the cause) We now know that the engineer was at a minimum, distracted, worst case he missed a signal while typing to these kids. As for people losing their use of a personal cell phone while they are being paid to work- too bad.

[MetraF40C607]

It would've been much better if they would've found that information through his Robert's phone records than from them. They've ruined the reputation for young raifans everywhere. Imagine what law officials will think when they see a kid next to the tracks on their phone texting or talking. Sure, it's probably no one important, but hey, if they can think we're terrorists because of our cameras, imagine what they'll think now!

[espeeboy]

Cell phone records obtained by NTSB investigators show that the Train #111 engineer was also texting a fellow Metrolink engineer (reportedly suspended). Is anybody honestly shocked at this? Railfans to RR crews, RR crewmembers to RR crewmembers, train dispatchers to RR crews, railfan to railfans - they ALL text and chat via cell phone just like most people do driving their cars in everyday life. This is all changing now for both transportation operators and eventually all motorvehicle drivers.

[175MPH]

Yeah we all read the news about that a couple days ago. Hopefully the RR crew will turn off their phones and get back to work now.

[espeeboy]

Again, are we thinking here first? Of course eventually the NTSB would have found out the cell phone records showing the engineer was texting. It is the status quo in most legal investigations to automatically subpoena cell phone records of parties involved, arrested, deceased, etc. You must not pay attention to the thousands of court cases, crime stories or investigation anything as covered by the news and network Police/Detective shows...

[175MPH]

Of course they would have found his cell records? Do you know if it was in his name? Was it a prepaid with no record? You must not pay much attention to the hundreds of thousands of people who use other phones, or pre paid phones. Seriously, did you think at all before you typed that post?

[MetraF40C607]

I'm not upset that you guys or whoever were texting with the engineer. Heres my problem. The ripple effects of that comming out are being felt by EVERY RAILROAD IN THE US. I'm good friends with engineers on Metra in Chicago. I've heard. Ya know, you don't come out with that information. You just don't. Rob's friends or not, next time, keep your mouths shut. Be glad you don't slapped with an accessory to murder charge. I don't care if the media did jump to conclusions. They always do.

[railfunny]

An accessory to murder? How could you say such a thing MetraF40C607? By your logic, anyone who's called their mom and caused an accident because she reached into her purse while driving would also be "an accessory to murder". It was an accident, and if the phone was the cause (a diabetic event is more likely), the sole responsibility would be with the engineer.

[CoasterMike2105]

Saved the lives of many ppl???

[railfunny]

Not on the day of the accident, but over his 12 year career. Other people besides the 25 killed in this accident would have died in car accidents if they hadn't taken train 111 and others instead of driving to work.

[Mikey34549]

Great Vid!

[175MPH]

Damn shame. Had those people just drove a car to work that day who knows how many would still be alive.

[railfunny]

Passengers would have been safer to drive on Sept 12, but not in the long term. More people die each day in auto accidents than this single one. That's why most blood sucking personal injury lawyers are pro-automobile and anti-rail. Auto accidents are their biggest money maker.

[175MPH]

Well those blood sucking lawyers will make bank on this little issue. Makes up for a career of chasing car accidents!

[railfunny]

They will still be chasing car accidents after this is over. One of the reasons PIL's don't like trains is because a 1997 federal reform limiting railroad class action suits to $200 million in max damages, to prevent PIL's from raiding the public coffers. PIL's are saying they want $5-10 million for each injury or death (with the PIL's keeping half), but this not happen due to the tort limit. I wish there was more tort reform, so that PIL's couldn't afford so many predatory TV commercials.

[espeeboy]

Uneducated moron.

Stats taken from actual FRA/DOT published reports in a 10-year period, 1996-2005:

Total Passenger Rail (rider) Fatalities: 72

Total Passengers Carried: 4,733,800,000

Odds of dying as train passenger: 1 in 65,747,222

Total Highway Fatalities (driver/passenger): 379,117

Total National Population (10 yrs): 2,810,682,000

Odds of dying as a vehicle occupant: 1 in 7,414

So you are 8,868 times more likely to die in a vehicle on the highway than as a passenger on a train.

[espeeboy]

If you didn't know, I was replying to the all talk, no brain 175mph guy and his comment below.

[175MPH]

Your data is over 3 years old and worthless to this discussion. Please present a full report, in powerpoint, with data that is less than three years old. Post your video on youtube and be prepared for extensive questions. In the mean time please contact youtube to remove the old/irrelevant data you spammed this discussion with.

[BNSFbrian]

I'm glad at least the freight crew survived. What a disaster!

[essexmt]

Thanks for the video.

[RailLifesaver]

It's a shame this happened. I hope that whatever the cause, steps are taken to prevent this from happening again. God rest their souls.

[HoblikBrno]

May all those people rest in peace...

[amtrak1970]

I hope this doesn't scare people away from driving, which's way more dangerous than the train.

[NSCatFish]

Let the NTSB do there investigation before we jump to any conclusions...

[ThalysPBKA]

My thought and prayers to all.

[SeattleSteam]

Thanks for the video. I'm glad not everyone's jumping the gun to blame the engineer.

[amiga33801]

What a mess. Did they do autopsy of engineer?

[karldotcom]

The autopsy has been done. The NTSB expected the final results to be available in two months (including toxicology)

[highspeedrailfan]

It's terrible what happened. I hope the US upgrades to automatic train stop or similar to prevent such stuff from happening again.