Re: Train Accident in Blue Mountains

[billboltonREMOVE-TO-EMAIL@computer.org (Bill Bolton)]

"Rod Gayford" <rjaygee@smartchat.net.au> wrote:

> Well, how come the V set hit at 50 KPH

How do you know it hit at 50kph?

There appears to be no direct information at all as to speed of
impact, while the available circumstantial evidence points to a much
lower speed at the point of impact. 

> If Glenbrook station was manned at that time surely the station
> staff could have told the driver of the V set that the IP had just left at a
> crawl or is that not their job.

>From published reports to date, the situation appears to be:

1. The IC train preceeding the IP went through the area under normal
signal operation, with no problem.

2. The IP drive found a red signal just east of Glenbrook at Red and
called Penrith signal box, which has no direct control or monitoring
over the signal.

3. Penrith signal box advised the signal was an apparent failure and
to proceed under the rules governing those conditions.

4, The IP driver found the next signal #40.6 also at Red, but was
unable to contact the signal box by the signal phone or by mobile
phone.  He waited one minute and had just started to move off at low
speed.

5. The driver of the IC train found at a red signal just east of
Glenbrook at Red and called Penrith signal box. 

6. Penrith signal box avised the signal was an apparent failure and to
proceed under the rules governing those conditions.

>From the information published to date it there is nothing to say
whether or not they told the IC driver that another train had
previously passed the signal under the same conditions.  They had no
way of knowing that the IP had found the signal in advance at Red at
that time.

> A bit of commonsense and discretion is called for.

As in posting messages,

Cheers,

Bill