Email to John Laws regarding comments this morning

["Dave Proctor" <daproc@sd5.mailbank.com>]

-----Original Message-----
From: David Proctor <thadocta@dingoblue.net.au>
To: fortress@ozemail.com.au <fortress@ozemail.com.au>
Date: Wednesday, 15 December 1999 1:00
Subject: Blacktown resignalling and on air comments

Dear John,

I was listening to your program this morning, and was somewhat disturbed by
your comments regarding the misrouting of a Blue Mountains train at
Blacktown yesterday morning.

You compared the misrouting with the tragedy that occurred at Glenbrook 13
days ago, and said that it was yet another example of things falling to
pieces on our railways. You implied that there was a breach of safety in
this instance.

Whilst I accept that you are an entertainer and not a journalist, I would
have though that a media personality of your stature would have at least
checked your facts as to what occurred, rather than merely taking the Daily
Telegraph's spiel on what occurred.

For the record, the route that the Blue Mountains train was accidentally
placed on is a route that is used countless times per day by trains destined
for Richmond. The route is fully signalled, and the signals were working at
the time of this incident. The driver of the Blue Mountains train did not
pass any red signals, all signals were set to proceed.

There was no breach of safety. The signalling system was functional, and
would have prevented any conflicting movement by other trains.

Your implication that the safety of the NSW rail system is falling to pieces
is nothing more than blatant scare mongering, and is beneath you.

For the record, I am NOT a rail employee, and I have no axe to grind on this
matter.

David Proctor
thadocta@dingoblue.net.au