The unimportant news thread

[JBS]

That problem reportedly isn't really attributable to the company:

" None of the deaths involving Brightline have been found to be the railroad's fault. Most have been suicides, pedestrians who tried to run across the tracks ahead of a train, or drivers who maneuvered around crossing gates rather than wait. "

https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/two-killed-brightline-train-collision-delray-beach/

Then why doesn't Amtrak service over the exact same set of tracks have an equally high number of deaths?

After all, if you're going to throw yourself under a train, does it matter what train you're going to throw yourself under?

In fact, the incentive to "beat the train to the crossing" can be much greater with the incredibly long freight trains that come through 2 or 3 times a day on those tracks, and can take five minutes or more to clear through a crossing.

[LKB]

Then why doesn't Amtrak service over the exact same set of tracks have an equally high number of deaths?

After all, if you're going to throw yourself under a train, does it matter what train you're going to throw yourself under?

In fact, the incentive to "beat the train to the crossing" can be much greater with the incredibly long freight trains that come through 2 or 3 times a day on those tracks, and can take five minutes or more to clear through a crossing.

Are the Brightline trains somehow less conspicuous than the normal Amtrak hardware? If the usual acoustic and/or visual cues are diminished or absent, people may be less aware of an approaching train.

[JBS]

Are the Brightline trains somehow less conspicuous than the normal Amtrak hardware? If the usual acoustic and/or visual cues are diminished or absent, people may be less aware of an approaching train.

Not that I know of.
In certain stretches of track the train can't toot its horn, but that applies to all trains and is mostly late at night, when Brightline isn't running.

[T. D.]

Today's chuckle from the windy dye-dripper:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-22/giuliani-owes-236k-and-counting-over-defamation-case-failures

[Spotted Horses]

Are the Brightline trains somehow less conspicuous than the normal Amtrak hardware? If the usual acoustic and/or visual cues are diminished or absent, people may be less aware of an approaching train.

From what little I've read, it certainly seems like Brightline trains run faster than typical Amtrak rail service, which could easily explain a higher rate of people or vehicles failing to get off the tracks as it approaches.

It is a real shame that the U.S. has lost it's passenger rail network. I used to live in Ithaca, NY, and it was common to hear old-timers bemoan the loss of passenger rail service to New York City, leaving the choice between driving or busses, which are perhaps cheaper to sustain but provide an inferior rider experience.

You will hear free-market advocates say that passenger rail service disappeared because it couldn't compete, as though the alternatives prevailed in a free market. Various government entities made large investments in air travel, including construction of airports, transport to and from airports, the air traffic control system, etc. Passenger rail needs a certain level of government support to function efficiently.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

There's some interesting information here:  https://www.local10.com/news/local/2021/12/17/brightline-launches-new-technology-to-keep-railways-safe-for-drivers-and-pedestrians/

Note:  this is from late 2021

One of the things from the article:  'Brightline executives are studying traffic data and have already installed two red light cameras at two railroad crossings as part of a pilot program.

In three weeks, 500 violations were caught on camera. On Friday, Local 10 News cameras were rolling at a crossing in North Miami Beach and caught some drivers stopped on the tracks.

"That means that more than 500 have driven around the gates. They stopped on the tracks before they were moving forward," said Robert Gatchell, Brightline Chief of Safety.'



PD

[Todd]

You will hear free-market advocates say that passenger rail service disappeared because it couldn't compete, as though the alternatives prevailed in a free market. Various government entities made large investments in air travel, including construction of airports, transport to and from airports, the air traffic control system, etc. Passenger rail needs a certain level of government support to function efficiently.

Trains suck.  The state should subsidize passenger transportation systems that don't suck.  Of course, I live and work in the West, where passenger train service can never do anything other than suck and suck real bad.  Maybe in the Northeast it makes more sense to have more robust passenger train service.  Voters can demand better passenger train service and they will get it.  Voters do not demand better passenger train service.  I am satisfied with the kick-ass freight train service in the US, which truly is the best in the world.  I want my goodies, and I want them on time.  The US made the correct set of choices regarding railroads. 

[Todd]

From ICN: The Era of Climate Migration Is Here, Leaders of Vulnerable Nations Say

Heads of climate-vulnerable nations gathered on the sidelines of a United Nations climate summit to call for new policies and agreements to manage the millions of people who are being forced from their homes by extreme weather.

Effectively addressing anthropogenic climate change driven migration patterns will require trillions of dollars in transfer payments from high income countries to low- and some middle-income countries, with the policies stretched out over decades.  Therefore, policy solutions will never work, if they are ever even implemented.  High(er) income countries - the US, Europe, Japan, and now China (a unique case in this regard) - are rapacious when it comes to resource extraction and exploitation from low- and some middle-income countries, but parsimonious in the extreme when it comes to providing ameliorative aid to the same countries.  Expect more such articles, with increasing frequency, for decades to come.  Perhaps prepare for limited wars as well, though that seems more likely to occur in the back half of the century, at least when it comes to great power involvement.

The mention of Tuvalu in the article intrigues and represents an extreme case.  Tuvalu will literally be wiped off the map sometime near the end of this century, or early next century, as the ocean swallows it.  Long before that, though, smaller increases in sea level will cause catastrophic damage and force the population to flee before the landmass is fully submerged.  And there's nothing that can be done to prevent this outcome.  It's too late.

[AnotherSpin]

From what little I've read, it certainly seems like Brightline trains run faster than typical Amtrak rail service, which could easily explain a higher rate of people or vehicles failing to get off the tracks as it approaches.

It is a real shame that the U.S. has lost it's passenger rail network. I used to live in Ithaca, NY, and it was common to hear old-timers bemoan the loss of passenger rail service to New York City, leaving the choice between driving or busses, which are perhaps cheaper to sustain but provide an inferior rider experience.

You will hear free-market advocates say that passenger rail service disappeared because it couldn't compete, as though the alternatives prevailed in a free market. Various government entities made large investments in air travel, including construction of airports, transport to and from airports, the air traffic control system, etc. Passenger rail needs a certain level of government support to function efficiently.

I like trains. The whole experience, the stations, the platforms, the compartments, the sleeper shelves and everything else. I've travelled on trains in countries as diverse as Switzerland and India and a few dozen others in between. Back home in Ukraine most often. Travelling by train in India is an unforgettable experience. More than once I crossed the whole sub-continent, from west to east, and from north to south. Indian trains seldom start and never arrive on time, on long routes it is not uncommon to be 6 or 8 hours late. This, of course, is an important lesson. People cannot and should not live by the clock; there is something inhuman about planning life by the minute. The only thing left to do is to relax, in the end everything is always good and only the way it is, it can't be otherwise

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I love riding on trains.  I especially remember two particular rides:  one on a train in Switzerland through the Alps when I was about 12---big picture windows and nice and clean.  It was in the wintertime and my parents and I were on a short vacation during my winter break.  The second one that comes to mind was in Japan.  My friend and I went from Nagoya to Kyoto on a bullet train.  Again, lovely and well-kept up train.  I enjoyed looking at the cities, towns and villages that we went through.

PD

[Todd]

Sunak Likely to Scrap Part of Flagship High-Speed Rail Project

Florida gets a big new choo-choo while the UK may shrink its choo-choo ambitions.

[Spotted Horses]

Trains suck.  The state should subsidize passenger transportation systems that don't suck.

I don't disagree with that.

Amtrak saved the remnants of the US passenger rail system, which had pretty much collapsed by 1970 due to competition with car culture and the interstate highway system. But except for a few highly traveled lines didn't invest much in what would be necessary to make the service attractive. Running passenger trains sharing rails with slow moving freight trains doesn't make for a great experience.

California had great ambitions for a high speed rail link from San Diego to San Francisco. But it got mired in environmental studies and right-of-way issues, and so far all we have in the works is a link from Bakersfield to Merced. Huh?

Legacy track in California isn't going to cut it. The prestige rail service in coastal California, the Pacific Surfliner, runs over this track.



How fast do you think trains can roll over this structure? You can take into account the fact that I took this photo from a pedestrian grade crossing. It takes twice as long to travel between coastal cities than to drive.

[Todd]

From NBC News: Standing ovation for a Ukrainian who fought with the Nazis sparks anger and an apology in Canada

Mods can certainly delete this post if they want to, but the unconscionable scene in the Canadian Parliament displays the all-encompassing success of pro-war propaganda. 

Maybe Mel Brooks can hurriedly make something out of this debacle.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I don't disagree with that.

Amtrak saved the remnants of the US passenger rail system, which had pretty much collapsed by 1970 due to competition with car culture and the interstate highway system. But except for a few highly traveled lines didn't invest much in what would be necessary to make the service attractive. Running passenger trains sharing rails with slow moving freight trains doesn't make for a great experience.

California had great ambitions for a high speed rail link from San Diego to San Francisco. But it got mired in environmental studies and right-of-way issues, and so far all we have in the works is a link from Bakersfield to Merced. Huh?

Legacy track in California isn't going to cut it. The prestige rail service in coastal California, the Pacific Surfliner, runs over this track.



How fast do you think trains can roll over this structure? You can take into account the fact that I took this photo from a pedestrian grade crossing. It takes twice as long to travel between coastal cities than to drive.

It's sad how much we've let our infrastructure degrade here in the US. 

PD

[AnotherSpin]

From NBC News: Standing ovation for a Ukrainian who fought with the Nazis sparks anger and an apology in Canada

Mods can certainly delete this post if they want to, but the unconscionable scene in the Canadian Parliament displays the all-encompassing success of pro-war propaganda. 

Maybe Mel Brooks can hurriedly make something out of this debacle.

Mr. Hunka was a veteran of the 14th SS Volunteer Division "Galicia" which was not specifically found guilty of any war crimes by any military tribunal or commission, including the Nuremberg Trials, and subsequently by the Canadian government and the Canadian Jewish Congress. It is well known and would be easily fact-checked by any responsible journalist. Another blown-up sensation at the instruction and financial support of the Kremlin.

[Todd]

Mr. Hunka was a veteran of the 14th SS Volunteer Division "Galicia" which was not specifically found guilty of any war crimes by any military tribunal or commission, including the Nuremberg Trials, and subsequently by the Canadian government and the Canadian Jewish Congress. It is well known and would be easily fact-checked by any responsible journalist. Another blown-up sensation at the instruction and financial support of the Kremlin.

The Canadian government made it a point to apologize, not rationalize.  It is good to know that the Canadian government is in Putin's pocket.  I never trusted Trudeau.

[AnotherSpin]

The Canadian government made it a point to apologize, not rationalize.  It is good to know that the Canadian government is in Putin's pocket.  I never trusted Trudeau.

You are relying on a poorly prepared article by an unqualified journalist. I don't know what the Canadian government said, and I don't want to speculate about it. Accusing Ukraine or Ukrainians of Nazism is complete bullshit.

[Todd]

You are relying on a poorly prepared article by an unqualified journalist.

I cited NBC News. 

[AnotherSpin]

I cited NBC News. 

No problem.

[DavidW]

From NBC News: Standing ovation for a Ukrainian who fought with the Nazis sparks anger and an apology in Canada

Mods can certainly delete this post if they want to, but the unconscionable scene in the Canadian Parliament displays the all-encompassing success of pro-war propaganda. 

Maybe Mel Brooks can hurriedly make something out of this debacle.

btw the mod team agrees that this post IS on topic.  Please carry on.