Re: Rail + Safety Records

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

ahh but how many of those were due to shoddy infrastructure and
maintainance, and how many were due to driver error????
hmm?

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
> >
>
>