Re: Indian Pacific hits freight train - Who's the Responsible Investigating body?

[pbeam@lisp.com.au (Peter)]

On Sat, 21 Aug 1999 00:15:38 +1000, "Exnarc" <gwrly@netspace.net.au>
wrote:
>
>> So we now enter the new railway age, with more questions than answers!
>> But regardless, the Railway is still the Safe way.
>>
>> regards, GF
>>
>
>No Safeway(s) is a supermarket chain, (Woolworths to you crow eaters).
>
>It funny (well not really), but all these accidents and the arguements of
>who is responsible seem to be come to the fore since the introduction of
>Open Access.
>
>I've been in this industry for 36 years, we had our accident in the past,
>but the frequency has increased (well I think so) enormously since the
>opening up of the rail industry to the private players!!!
>
>Why is this so????
>
>Cost cutting, increased work loads, longer hours (read crew fatigue), profit
>taking????????????????????????????????

Beging cost effective is the catch cry of the new system, saftey
does't rate.

In NSW (in the area where I'm at) we have had two incidences with NRC
Trains. Both reported and the word from the DOT was there had to be an
accident before any action would be taken. These crews run such long
distance and long hours to do the distance, with little if any
consideration for delays and no relief if the are on long hours. They
start to neglect safe working procedures, it would be of no suprise if
this is what has happened. Of course no NRC driver would criticise NRC
because his work mates would ostracize him.