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Thanks Eric... A very interesting article. There was one statement I noted in there which may alay the fears of some train travellers.
quote:But safety statistics can be misleading.
For example, the number of derailments jumped almost 20 percent in the past four years to nearly 2,200 last year. But more than half of those were freight trains that derailed inside railroad switching yards, which are closed to the public, Flatau said. "Dropping just one wheel off the track is considered a derailment," he added.
I believe all forms of public transportation to be very safe. Although I've (so far) been accident free in every mode, except on foot, I feel safer while riding on a train, plane, or bus than I do in my own car.
[This message has been edited by Ken V (edited 04-22-2002).]
posted
I'd take a '57 Budd Heritage coach over my Volvo any day. As for the press using "mangled" and "askew," that falls in with my complaints about "overturned."
Buy a better thesaurus.
I'm always looking to upgrade my facts... Anyone ever seen a high-level passenger car actually flip over? I know of a wreck in 1988 or so where the Builder ended up taking a crossover at speed and rolled both engines, but not much was said about the equipment. Please help if you can.
posted
Don't feel too bad about the poor quality of reporting. I'm a commercial pilot (not airlines) and you should see how they mangle (correct usage here) air accident reports!
Although most national correspondants (Bob Hagar and others) seem to do pretty well, below that level it is pathetic.
Then again, these guys keep talking about scuba divers "running out of oxygen," not realizing that it is extremely rare for a diver to be using oxygen in the first place!
Makes one circumspect of ALL reportage.
Posts: 363 | From: Southwest North Central Florida | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Another fatal accident in California today. It was a Metrolink passenger train, which is operated by Amtrak.
Posts: 4 | Registered: Apr 2002
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