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Metro-North trains collide, NEC closed for days
Until the cause is actually identified, let us not assume that the aging infrastructure was the reason. That said, it has been obvious in many parallel track accidents that the tracks should have close to a car length of separation to avoid this type of accident. However, this problem can exist on new double track as well as on a century-old right of way.
I don’t recall clearing the site of wrecks to be so time consuming when the railroads (i.e. non-governments) ran passenger trains.
Days to reopen?! Hold up thousands? Who is in charge? It takes men and equipment working from both ends. Very very simple. Does anyone there do logistics?
Don’t these people has any kind of sense of urgency???
Investigate the derailment 7 to 10 days to determine the cause???
Any track supervisor and trainmaster with any experience probably could have told you the cause within about 20 minutes of arriving at the scene.
One other thing… OK they have to rebuild 2,000 feet or track, signals and wire. Several days??? Aren’t these people prepared? Don’t they have supplies ready to go in case of such an incident? Can’t they quickly restore the track for minimum speed and improve as time allows? Even if they have to use a diesel to pull a train a half mile while the wire gets rebuilt?
What’s the point of having four tracks when a derailment on two shuts the whole line down even after the derailed cars are removed?
Would any of the freight railroads let a major line remain out of service for this long after a derailment? I doubt it. But because this is a government owned and operated railroad, thousands of paying customers are at the bottom of priorities and will just have to live with the consequences until all the paperwork is complete.
Weener said, in his press briefing, that the section has no PTC. I thought all Amtrak NEC lines had it operational. Maybe not on the M-NR owned lines. I doubt if PTC would have prevented the accident.
Comments. The section of track where this occurred only had two of the four tracks open due to a bridge replacement just east of the site. Upon invesrigation they found a broken rail. This may or may not be the root cause. As of Sunday Hulcher had the derailed cars back on tracks. Looking at the pics a considerable stretch of trading was torn up. In addition the derailment took down the overhead wires. This is what you call a train wreck. And a small one. All the cars remained upright. Have a look at the comments in the forum thread.
Getting back and forth to work on this outdated albatrose is a flip of the coin.