Re: Rail + Safety Records

[Bill <billguest@the.net.nz>]

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

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.
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> Shrewsbury, Mass                |pierson@mail.dec.com
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