Almost 90,000 people (taxpayers?) a day ride those trains and there is even old technology to automatically slow a train as it approaches a steep curve... but the switching system has not yet been installed to protect those trains, many of them built in the 1970's.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
So, you're implying the lack of funding caused the crash? ...didn't know you're a member of the NTSB..
NO Tbird. I'm not. This is what a "Member Of The NTSB" had to say about the accident and lack of safety equipment:
"Based on what we know right now, we feel that had such a system been installed in this section of track, this accident would not have occurred," said Robert Sumwalt, a board member of the National Transportation Safety Board.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Amtrak doesn’t have the latest safety technology on all trains because they lack the funds to pay for such an expense. Amtrak lacks the funds because Republicans have been trying for years to kill and privatize Amtrak. Boehner only gave half of the answer while leaving out the part about Republican budget making the nation’s railway system less safe.
Boner's Comments Start at 1:04 of the video
Quoted Text
As usual with Boehner when the Speaker lacks facts, he flips out on the reporter who asked the question. There was nothing stupid about the question. The reality is that Republican budget cuts literally kill people.
No amount of yelling and theatrics from Speaker Boehner can hide the fact that the Republican refusal to properly fund infrastructure has life and death consequences for the nation’s travelers.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
NO Tbird. I'm not. This is what a "Member Of The NTSB" had to say about the accident and lack of safety equipment:
"Based on what we know right now, we feel that had such a system been installed in this section of track, this accident would not have occurred," said Robert Sumwalt, a board member of the National Transportation Safety Board.
He also knows if the conductor WAS DOING HIS JOB, the accident would not have occurred either...and that wouldn't have costed a dime more.
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
He also knows if the conductor WAS DOING HIS JOB, the accident would not have occurred either...and that wouldn't have costed a dime more.
Quite possibly so. But if the conductor was drunk or drugged, or if he was unconscious, or if he was playing video games or if he had a heart attack and died...etc etc etc... With the safety equipment that is already on most first world trains operating today, this tragedy could have been avoided.
We operate cars with air bags, seat belts, crumple zones, impact absorbing bumpers... as standard equipment. These train safety devices would be already in place if the funds were there (and not cut) from AMTRAK's budget in the past.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
We operate cars with air bags, seat belts, crumple zones, impact absorbing bumpers... as standard equipment. These train safety devices would be already in place if the funds were there (and not cut) from AMTRAK's budget in the past.
So the $300 million was cut from safety devices on trains? What was the other $1.2 BILLION in federal funds used for if not safety devices? Was it for the salary of a conductor driving 100 mph around a 50 mph turn?
FLASHBACK: FBI Warns Of Terror Threat From Stolen Train "Derailers"
May 13, 2015
As we await more information on the train derailment in Philadelphia on Tuesday night it should be noted that the FBI put out several warnings since 9-11 on possible sabotage of US trains. The FBI warned of stolen “derailers” after the 9-11 attacks. This warning was first published in 2003. ABC News reported: Devices that could be used by terrorists to derail trains are being stolen from rail facilities around the country, the FBI warned today. Nine derailers, a piece of railroad equipment used to derail train cars for safety purposes in railyards have been stolen recently, sources said, citing the FBI’s weekly intelligence bulletin. The theft of these items is strange since they are of little use outside of the rail industry, according to the bulletin.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
1. So the $300 million was cut from safety devices on trains? 2. What was the other $1.2 BILLION in federal funds used for if not safety devices? 3. Was it for the salary of a conductor driving 100 mph around a 50 mph turn?
1. I don't know how much was cut from AMTRAK. 2. Keeping AMTRAK running. 3. I have no idea, but it has no relevance to this discussion.
1. Was it safety devices that were cut from the GOP cuts? Why didn't they at least fund SAFETY DEVICES? 2. Was the conductor (no matter what his salary) even conscious (drunk, drugged, taking a crap in the mens room) when the accident happened? 3. Should the GOP fund safety devices (as was needed to save taxpayer lives) for AMTRAK?
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
1. Was it safety devices that were cut from the GOP cuts? Why didn't they at least fund SAFETY DEVICES? 2. Was the conductor (no matter what his salary) even conscious (drunk, drugged, taking a crap in the mens room) when the accident happened? 3. Should the GOP fund safety devices (as was needed to save taxpayer lives) for AMTRAK?
Rail safety was funded in 2009 by Obama and the Democrats. You know, it was one of those "shovel ready" projects. Two major passenger train wrecks since the funding.
Quoted Text
Implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is committed to implementing those parts of the legislation delegated to our control in an efficient, expeditious, effective and transparent manner. Under the leadership of Secretary LaHood, FRA assists states, localities, other Federal agencies, industry and transportation sector stakeholders to ensure appropriate consultation and coordination among all parties in managing ARRA investments.
High Speed Rail In April 2009, FRA submitted a strategic plan to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees describing how the FRA will use the $8,000,000,000 in Recovery Act funding to improve and deploy high speed passenger rail systems. The strategic plan includes, among other things, a description of:
1.The agency’s vision for developing high speed rail services 2.The proposed schedule for providing grant funds under ARRA 3.The criteria that will be used to select projects 4.The reporting and evaluation process that will be used to measure and communicate program effectiveness 5.The relationship of the ARRA grant programs to the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) On June 28, 2009, FRA issued interim program guidance to applicants covering grant terms, conditions and procedures. This interim provides separate instructions for the high-speed rail corridor program, capital assistance for intercity rail service grants, and congestion grants.
Amtrak FRA awarded $1,300,000,000 in Recovery Act funds to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) for capital grants in support of intercity railroad passenger services. $450,000,000 of the funds are to be used for security improvements, including life safety improvements.
Priority uses for the non-security funding include projects for the repair, rehabilitation, or upgrade of railroad assets or infrastructure, and for capital projects that expand passenger rail capacity, including the rehabilitation of rolling stock. Funds are awarded to Amtrak through execution of a formal grant agreement between the FRA and Amtrak. The grant agreement incorporates Recovery Act requirements, including those related to jobs creation, transparency, and timely expenditure.
Most of the trains in the rest of the developed world would not have had this accident. The wreck was avoidable, and unnecessary.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Most of the trains in the rest of the developed world would not have had this accident. The wreck was avoidable, and unnecessary.
Quoted Text
How safe are Europe's railways?
A train derailment in Spain - the worst crash the country has seen in 40 years - has left 78 people dead and more than 130 injured. How do railways in Europe compare by country for their safety?
A train derailment outside the northwestern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela has left 78 people dead and more than 130 injured. The crash is the worst recorded in Spain for 40 years.
But how safe are railways in Europe? And how has their safety records changed over time?
The first place to look at is the European Railway Agency's (ERA) railway safety performance report published earlier this year. According to the agency, in 2011, there were 2,342 significant railway accidents reported in the EU resulting in 1,183 fatalities and 1,032 seriously injured.
Of the 2,342 significant accidents that occurred in 2011, 44 were classified as serious accidents by the National Investigation Bodies (NIBs) and as such were investigated independently. A 'serious accident' is defined as:
Any train collision or derailment of trains, resulting in the death of at least one person or serious injuries to five or more persons or extensive damage to rolling stock, the infrastructure or the environment, and any other similar accident with an obvious impact on railway safety regulation or the management of safety; 'extensive damage' means damage that can immediately be assessed by the investigating body to cost at least EUR 2 million in total
On average a derailment or a collision is reported at least every second day in the EU, according to the ERA, "causing significant disruptions to railway operations". The chart below shows how the number of accidents in the EU has changed over recent years by accident type.
Accidents to persons caused by rolling stock in motion and level-crossing accidents make up more than three quarters of railway accidents, excluding suicides. In these accidents, around 1,200 people are killed and a similar number are seriously injured each year.
When the government subsidizes mega rich corporations, like the railroad, it takes a long time for anything to reach the bottom, because everyone is pilfering along every layer.
All the big wheels at the top need to be greased before the bottom can be helped.
AMTRAK still gets over a Billion dollars a year from the government and they still have been losing money every year.
WOW! Since Obama took office, AMTRAK has cut it's losses in half! Way to go Barack!
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Logged
