A KID IN RIVER GROVE GOT HIT BY A MILWAUKEE WEST LINE WESTBOUND EXPRESS TRAIN GOING 68 MPH THE KID GOT OFF AN EASTBOUND TRAIN AND WAS WAITING FOR HIS DAD WHEN HE DARTED ACROSS THE TRACKS HIS MOM TOLD HIM TO STOP THEN A EXPRESS TRAIN HIT HIM A METRA SPOKESPERSON SAID THE ENGINNER’S WERE A TAKEN OFF DUTY FOR COUCLING THEY THINK THAT BOTH OF THEM BROKE RULES THAT STATE TO TELL THE APPROACHING TRAIN TO STOP OR KEEP HIS OWN TRAIN IN THE STATION. METRA WILL LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM THEY WILL LOOK AT RAIDO LOGS AND EVENT RECORDERS AND OTHER DATA TO SEE IF THE ENGINNER CAUSED THE ACCIDNET THE EXPRESS SOUNDED ITS HORN LIKE REQURIED THE CHILDS GRANDMOTHER BLAMED METRA IT’S HARD TO TELL TO HAVE ONE TRAIN COME THRU THEN DON’T LET THE PASSENGERS OFF I LIVE BY THE BN 3 TRACK MAIN TO AURORA AND THEY DON’T FOLLOW THAT POLICY THEY LET PEOPLE EVEN IF A EXPRESS BLASTING THRU AT 70 MPH. MY SYMOTHIES GO TO HIS FAMILY AND THE ENGINNERS[:(][:(][:(]
My sincerest sympathies to the train crew and to the child’s family and friends.
It was a horrible event. I wish somebody in government would insist that, at those Metra stop were people have to cross tracks by a wooden walkway on the tracks, they would build either a tunnel or an overpass bridge.
I don’t know if this feasible, but how about a mini-crossing gate between the tracks, so you cannot physically cross the tracks until the warning bells/lights have stopped. I know everyone is in a hurry, but it’s a person’s life we’re talking about. That scene must have been horrific for all involved, so sorry.
I know that at some grade crossings there are small mini-gates to protect the sidewalks. The idea of having the mini-gates on station platforms isn’t too bad of an idea.
I don’t think that they would need them at all platforms though. For example, in Omaha the tracks that Amtrak use recieve only a couple of trains a day and they don’t go fast.
Willy
Metra is currently installing flashing lights and bells at the crosswalks of several of their stations. They were recently installed at Oak Lawn on the Southwest Line.
BNSF has long had a low fence between the tracks through Berwyn to reduce the problem of trespassers crossing the tracks both between stations and not at designated crosswalks. I’m sure that it helps but it can’t completely eliminate the problem.
The main reason that more pedestrian tunnels and overpasses have not been built is the cost, about $1,000,000 each, and that state and federal money for such a project is scarce. Again, these would help alleviate but not eliminate the problem of crossing the tracks unsafely since it’s almost impossible to mandate that the overpass or tunnel be used.
Doggy, I realize that you are upset by this story, as I’m sure that most everyone who reads it will be, I know that I was. But, it would be much easier to read if you would simply type in mixed case, though a message like this is never EASY to read no matter how it is typed.
I visited Chicago a couple of summers ago, and saw some of these suburban stations. Perhaps the solution would be to erect a 6’ high chainlink fence, along the platform, between the tracks, and have an opening near either end, with sliding gates that would only be open when it was safe to cross.
This solution might even be cost effective for the railroads, and prevent further tragedies from happening.
There is no way to put up sufficient fencing or tunnels or whatever to keep people from acting ignorant.
I have seen commuters actually crawl under the train after disembarking at a station, for the reason of not having to wait for the train to pull out of the station. Some engineers [myself included] would actually, at certain stations where this occurred frequently, hold some air in the brakes after stopping at the station. When we would see a commuter make the move to go under the train, we would release the brakes…the moron would shoot out from under the train so fast, I bet they needed new undies.
Back when there were “firemen” (engineers-in-training) on the suburban trains, and because on the CNW the station platforms are all on the 'fireman’s side of the train, the fireman would count to the engineer how many commuters were crossing the front of the locomotive so close that we could not see them in front. That way the engineer would be fairly certain that no one was still in front when the train started moving. When the fireman were taken off, the engineer would just ring the bell and hope.
On the CNW part of Metra, there used to be a rule against more than one train occupying a station at one time, for the reason of preventing this exact occurrence. If that rule is in effect on this line, then the engineer of the high-speed train violated that rule. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
When I was in Chicago last year, I did some rail fanning at the Downer’s Grove station. I think one of the problems is complacency. These people didn’t think anything of being right at the edge of the platform when trains came by. I saw several people standing with their foot on the yellow line right at the edge of the platform, while an express train came by at 50 to 60 mph. I think it just doesn’t register in their heads how dangerous these trains can be.
Thank You for telling me about the mixed case I was sick so I forgot about the ALL CAPS