Re: Rail + Safety Records

["Thomas Fothergill" <s370507@student.uq.edu.au>]

my point exactly...
road casualties are largely due to human error, as with rail also, however
there is a proportion of rail accidents that are not driver (or due to
inadequate driver training) error.

Dave Malcolm <keithm@commslab.gov.au> wrote in message
keithm.142.38477732@commslab.gov.au">news:keithm.142.38477732@commslab.gov.au...
> In article <3847705a@vk4lw.caboolture.net.au> "Thomas Fothergill"
<s370507@student.uq.edu.au> writes:
> >From: "Thomas Fothergill" <s370507@student.uq.edu.au>
> >Subject: Re: Rail + Safety Records
> >Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 17:28:10 +1000
>
> >ahh but how many of those were due to shoddy infrastructure and
> >maintainance, and how many were due to driver error????
> >hmm?
>
> How many rail accidents were due to mechanical failure, as opposed to
human
> error?
>
> Dave Malcolm
>
> >David Martin <d_martin@mountains.net.au> wrote in message
> >q1J14.1233$V14.8762@nsw.nnrp.telstra.net">news:q1J14.1233$V14.8762@nsw.nnrp.telstra.net...
> >> Blue Mountains road toll for November:
> >> 14/11/99 Faulconbridge. 2 injured in head-on
> >> 14/11/99 Kings Plains 3 dead, 2 critically injured in head-on
> >> 21/11/99 Mt Boyce 4 dead, 4 injured in 4 car pile-up
> >> 25/11/99 Blackheath. 1 dead, 1 injured in semi-trailer head-on
> >>
> >> I still feel safer in a train!!
> >>
> >> David Martin
> >> Blue Mountains Railway Pages
> >> www.info.mountains.net.au/rail
> >>
> >> David Guymer <davidmg@optusnet.com.au> wrote in message
> >> 38473869.C68C1E17@optusnet.com.au">news:38473869.C68C1E17@optusnet.com.au...
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Bill wrote:
> >> >
> >> > > Rail is in fact inherently unsafe. Heavy vehicles travelling at
speed
> >on
> >> fixed
> >> > > tracks, unable to swerve or brake quickly, cannot be inherently
safe.
> >> What
> >> > > makes rail safe is eternal vigilance, to ensure that the
> >infrastructure,
> >> the
> >> > > rolling stock, the people, and the rules that bind them together
into
> >> the rail
> >> > > system are all in good shape. Well-designed inspections, proper
> >> maintenance,
> >> > > correct training and retraining, supervision that emphasises
correct
> >> > > standards, underpinned by a prudent level of capital investment
will
> >> keep a
> >> > > rail system safe. Over-emphasis on profitability, cost-cutting, and
> >> > > productivity can result in a rise in accidents and incidents if
> >> preventive
> >> > > measures and defences are weakened by staff cuts and procedural
> >changes.
> >> > >
> >> > > I think this is Australia's thrid collision in 6 months, is it not?
> >And
> >> Tranz
> >> > > Rail in NZ had a bad one (loco engineer killed) in September. Four
in
> >> > > Australasia in 6 months? Statistical blip?
> >> > >
> >> > > Bill
> >> > >
> >> >
> >> > Now you know why I was happy to be made redundant when Melbourne's
> >> transport was
> >> > privatized.
> >> > David G.
> >> >
> >> > >
> >> > > dave pierson wrote:
> >> > >
> >> > > > Richard wrote:
> >> > > >
> >> > > > > Up until fairly recently there was always good ground for the
> >> argument
> >> > > > > that travelling by rail was far far safer than by air.
> >> > > >
> >> > > >         It would seem to be a local to Australia phenomenon,
then.
> >> > > >         Elsewhere, world wide, passenger safety, rail vs air is
> >> > > >         roughly the same for both modes, deaths/mile (per km...)
> >> > > >         basis.  (I've got the numbers...)  I'd assume equivalent
> >> > > >         numbers for Australia re available.  (Cars, autos are
> >roughly
> >> > > >         10x worse....  Elsewhere, varying from country to
> >country...)
> >> > > >
> >> > > > > Now also arguably some of the recent comings together of iron
> >horses
> >> > > > > were of the freight variety...but that aside...what s with all
> >> theses
> >> > > > >collisions??
> >> > > >
> >> > > >         IS there a change?  really?  Long term averages?
> >> > > >
> >> > > >         If so, it could be a statistical blip.  Rail is
(relatively)
> >> > > >         quite safe.  Needs long term numbers to see if there is a
> >> trend..
> >> > > >         Once there is a trend (if there is one...) then looking
for
> >> causes
> >> > > >         makes, i should think, more sense...
> >> > > >
> >> > > > --
> >> > > > thanks
> >> > > > dave pierson                    |the facts, as accurately as i
can
> >> manage,
> >> > > > Smart Modular Technology        |the opinions, my own.
> >> > > > 334 South St                    |
> >> > > > Shrewsbury, Mass                |pierson@mail.dec.com
> >> > > > "He has read everything, and, to his credit, written nothing."  A
J
> >> > > > Raffles
> >> > > > "Internet: net of a million lies..."    after Vernor Vinge
> >> >
> >>
> >>
>
>
>