Is it just me or are there more train wrecks lately?

[jenn1977]

I just read about yet another train wreck today, this time in Washington state. It seems like every week I hear about another one. Anyone else notice this? What gives?

[prodigal_green]

1. Gov't keeps cutting funding for Amtrak

and the rail system in general. Stuff breaks down.

[Sequoia]

2. Sabatoge?

Think about it.

[NYC]

3. Or poor maintenace.

Could be either. We ought to have standards for maintenance and security, instead of constant budget cuts.

[Sal Minella]

4. Sabotage by the profiteering oil companies, yes.

Rail is by far the most efficient way to move freight and people, but the government continues to subsidize airlines and starve the railroads because oil companies don't make billions selling fuel to trains.

Japan has 200 mph bullet trains. France has 190 mph trains which now are very profitable. We have a disintigrating rail system because oil profiteers are calling the shots. If some exterior power were destroying our railroads at this rate, we'd be up in arms about it.

[Vogon_Glory]

5. Not really

I'm not sure that there have been all that many more train wrecks lately. I do think that the number of wrecks involving passenger rail have gone up as more metro areas start up commuter service.

What has also happened, though, is that there are a lot fewer people watching the tracks than, say, around 1900. Railroads used to have a lot more people walking the tracks than they do now. Closing small-town stations may save money, automating track repair may also save bucks, but not having track walkers also means that people aren't there keeping a wary eye out for washouts as rainstorms pound different parts of the country.

The big weather system currently pounding the West Coast has been playing Hob with railroad rights of way. Railroad tracks, unlike highways, tend to stay closer to water courses because trains can't really run that well over grades of more than 4 percent. Unfortunately, being near watercourses like the Columbia Gorge leads to the possibility of more wrecks caused by washouts.