Re: Train Accident in Blue Mountains

[keithm@commslab.gov.au (Dave Malcolm)]

In article <u3ih4sgp9ffif2rekil7486kes3l2grfk6@4ax.com> billboltonREMOVE-TO-EMAIL@computer.org (Bill Bolton) writes:
>From: billboltonREMOVE-TO-EMAIL@computer.org (Bill Bolton)
>Subject: Re: Train Accident in Blue Mountains
>Date: Sat, 04 Dec 1999 19:09:28 +1100

>"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.

If Penrith didn't know the IP had cleared the section why did they allow the 
IC to proceed? If that is what occured.

Dave Malcolm

>> A bit of commonsense and discretion is called for.

>As in posting messages,

>Cheers,

>Bill