Re: Rail + Safety Records

["David Martin" <d_martin@mountains.net.au>]

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
>