[twitchyzero]

https://static.seattletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/12182017_derailaerials_115021-1020x680.jpg

accident on the new line between Tacoma and Olympia
the governor declared a state of emergency
thoughts are with those that has to go through this pain during the holidays

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/amtrak-train-derailment-olympia-interstate-5-seattle/

[originalhypa]

Very sad situation, and so close to home.
The question is, is it terrorism, or just Amtrak?

[Manic!]

Very sad situation, and so close to home.
The question is, is it terrorism, or just Amtrak?

It's shitty America. It was the first run on the track with increased speed and paying passengers.

skytrain has been running automated since the 80's using 5.25 inch floppy disks. American trains like the one that crashed still use people to control the speed. A number of times distracted conductors have caused crashes.

[boibuddha]

I'm thinking this is was caused by human error, an article on Global stated the train was going 130 kph when it failed on its maiden voyage on a new section of the track.
https://globalnews.ca/news/3922464/amtrak-train-derails-south-of-seattle-hangs-off-overpass-over-i-5/

Without knowing their normal operating speeds, that sounds pretty fast for an untested track with a load of people.

So much :fulloffuck:

[originalhypa]

It was a new high speed run, so one has to consider that this is normal operating speed.
In 2015 there was a proposal for a high speed Portland to Vancouver run.

"It would be over 180 miles [290 kilometres] per hour and it would be on … it it's own corridor separate from freight rail," Brad Perkins — the co-founder and CEO of Cascadia High Speed Rail told The Early Edition's Rick Cluff.

That’s far faster than 130kmh. Granted, the Amtrak may still be on old tracks not suited for those speeds. You would think that Amtrak would have done their homework though...

[BrRsn]

clearly terrorism


source:

i am a terrorist

[Great68]

It's shitty America. It was the first run on the track with increased speed and paying passengers.

skytrain has been running automated since the 80's using 5.25 inch floppy disks. American trains like the one that crashed still use people to control the speed. A number of times distracted conductors have caused crashes.

Skytrain is a dedicated, closed track with limited junction/switching points.

These Amtrack trains operate on regular public rail lines.

You can't compare the two at ALL.

[twitchyzero]

It was a new high speed run, so one has to consider that this is normal operating speed.
In 2015 there was a proposal for a high speed Portland to Vancouver run.


the WSDoT just released a report yesterday on high-speed rail from Vancouver BC to Portland

talk about timing...

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/high-speed-train-linking-vancouver-seattle-and-portland-could-cost-54-billion-1.3725490

[Manic!]

Skytrain is a dedicated, closed track with limited junction/switching points.

These Amtrack trains operate on regular public rail lines.

You can't compare the two at ALL.

The US has the tech but the have not implemented it. If they can make cars self driving they can make a train automatically slow down based on location.

[twitchyzero]

^ it's not about having the tech, what about funding?

also, testing was probably not rigorous enough

too early for speculations but amtrak doesn't have a great track record, no pun intended

Over the past decade, there have been about 31 derailments per year, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. That number is significantly down from the 54 derailments that occurred per year over the decade before, a span that included two years — 2000 and 2001 — with 156 combined derailments, the most over any two-year period since the mid-1970s.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/05/13/how-often-do-amtrak-trains-derail-looking-at-the-rail-agencys-history-and-what-caused-derailments/?utm_term=.74f611b5a04a

[BrRsn]

Skytrain is a dedicated, closed track with limited junction/switching points.

These Amtrack trains operate on regular public rail lines.

You can't compare the two at ALL.

i have thousands of hours logged as a chief engineer and driver for several cargo and passenger trains, and I must say, you're incorrect.


there's a track, an engine, and a power button. its all the same.



and for those wondering, my TrainSimulator 2015 ID is theBrownReason. Look me up -- I'm ranked first in Lithuania

[The_AK]

clearly terrorism


source:

i am a terrorist

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tp74PEHcszI/UjyvCfoWUjI/AAAAAAAAANA/tAG9knuqATI/s1600/fbi2.jpg

[BrRsn]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tp74PEHcszI/UjyvCfoWUjI/AAAAAAAAANA/tAG9knuqATI/s1600/fbi2.jpg

you wanna start submitting tips best make sure your ass got room for about 2.5 x 0.75 inches of pure rage because that's the only tip youre gonna get from me, PAL.

[GS8]

clearly terrorism


source:

i am a terrorist

Well you're brown so that's a given

Also, I learned reporters on the east don't know what an I5 is

[Great68]

i have thousands of hours logged as a chief engineer and driver for several cargo and passenger trains, and I must say, you're incorrect.


there's a track, an engine, and a power button. its all the same.



It's all the same in reference to what? Factors for automation?
The technology is there but the practicality to automate the entire continental rail system to do completely without engineers is not.

The topic has come up, and some good comments also from people who work in the industry is in here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/712012/eli5_trains_seem_like_nobrainers_for_total/

[The_AK]

you wanna start submitting tips best make sure your ass got room for about 2.5 x 0.75 inches of pure rage because that's the only tip youre gonna get from me, PAL.

Location: Whalley

[twitchyzero]

Also, I learned reporters on the east don't know what an I5 is

https://static.nix.ru/autocatalog/intel/110773_3159_draft.jpg

[hchang]

clearly terrorism


source:

i am a terrorist

Aaaaand now CIA and FBI will be actively monitoring this thread.

[bobbinka]

:facepalm: i suppose they can time travel too

[twitchyzero]

ntsb found it was traveling 80 in a 30mph zone
does anyone know if train 501 originates from Pacific Central?

[Anjew]

Aaaaand now CIA and FBI will be actively monitoring this thread.

the entire forum is going to get snap shotted and parsed

[Digitalis]

They arn't servicing the railbeds the trains 40-50 years ago used to go faster on the same tracks than they do now. How else do you explain third world countries having faster speeds.

[originalhypa]

It's shitty America. It was the first run on the track with increased speed and paying passengers.

Looks like you're right.
The bridge was rated for 50kmh, while the train was going 130kmh.


Amtrak train hurtling 80 km/h over speed limit before derailment, investigators say

Federal officials confirmed an Amtrak train was hurtling 50 mph over the speed limit when it careened off an overpass south of Seattle, spilling cars onto the highway below and killing at least three people.

Bella Dinh-Zarr, a National Transportation Safety Board member, said at a Monday night news conference that information from the event data recorder in the rear locomotive showed the train was traveling at 80 mph in a 30 mph zone when it derailed at 7:34 a.m.

the rest is just hyperbole.
You can read it here if you want https://globalnews.ca/news/3924335/amtrak-train-derailment-over-speed-limit/

[twitchyzero]

They arn't servicing the railbeds the trains 40-50 years ago used to go faster on the same tracks than they do now. How else do you explain third world countries having faster speeds.

I can't think of a third world country that has railways longer than America
even Russia and China have high-speed rail

[Traum]

The bridge was rated for 50kmh, while the train was going 130kmh.

Really makes you wonder WTF the operator was doing... FailFish