Georgia Trail Riders Forum

MEMBERS DISCUSSION AREA => General Discussion => Topic started by: Danny Kinder on December 18, 2017, 04:47:34 PM

Title: Amtrak train derailment
Post by: Danny Kinder on December 18, 2017, 04:47:34 PM: Terrible news! I road Marta on the way down to run the Peachtree this year. No one regulated the amount of passengers or weight limit. I seriously felt panicked on the way to Atlanta. It felt like the train was waaaay over the weight limit, you couldn't move in any direction and the train was rocking back and forth pretty heavily.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/18/us/amtrak-derailment-washington/index.html

(http://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/171218134035-18-wa-amtrak-crash-1218-exlarge-169.jpg)
Title: Re: Amtrak train derailment
Post by: Bruce on December 18, 2017, 05:13:13 PM: sad news, near where I use to live
Title: Re: Amtrak train derailment
Post by: Krawler00 on December 19, 2017, 10:59:15 AM: Train was reportedly doing 80mph in a 30mph section... that would have definitely caused an issue to arise. Driver error I assume. No automated trains right?
Title: Re: Amtrak train derailment
Post by: Trailabite on December 19, 2017, 11:15:44 AM: Quote from: Krawler00 on December 19, 2017, 10:59:15 AM
Train was reportedly doing 80mph in a 30mph section... that would have definitely caused an issue to arise. Driver error I assume. No automated trains right?
There is a system called Positive Train Control (PTC) that has been mandated by the Feds but, it was not implemented on this project. It's installed just not turned on yet. If this PTC system was in place it would have taken over the controls of the train and slowed it down.

All freight and commuter rails have to implement a PTC system by a certain time frame. Unfortunately, the Feds keep pushing that date out and preventable shit like this keeps happening.

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Title: Re: Amtrak train derailment
Post by: Krawler00 on December 19, 2017, 11:16:56 AM: Shame for sure. I figured you would chime in. Thanks Chuck.

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Title: Re: Amtrak train derailment
Post by: Blue J on December 19, 2017, 12:01:36 PM: @Trailabite Chuck, is this PTC the same as something on the tracks slowing the train down. I heard mention of something that was activated on the tracks being used in this section, in dry runs, to slow trains down, but for some reason wasn't activated during the live run.
Title: Re: Amtrak train derailment
Post by: Trailabite on December 19, 2017, 12:34:44 PM: Nothing mechanical. Its a communications based system. There is equipmemt along the tracks like antennas and gps devices that tie back into the train control itself. Sounds like this system was installed and had been tested in this portion of the track. Not sure why it was turned off.

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Title: Re: Amtrak train derailment
Post by: DOUG on December 19, 2017, 01:30:41 PM: Quote from: Trailabite on December 19, 2017, 12:34:44 PM
Nothing mechanical. Its a communications based system. There is equipmemt along the tracks like antennas and gps devices that tie back into the train control itself. Sounds like this system was installed and had been tested in this portion of the track. Not sure why it was turned off.

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NBC said was slated to be active next year
Title: Re: Amtrak train derailment
Post by: clark123456 on December 19, 2017, 04:55:03 PM: Do you guys think the government should have and enforce a regulation that ensures the PTC system is on all trains?

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Title: Re: Amtrak train derailment
Post by: Trailabite on December 19, 2017, 06:05:20 PM: Quote from: clark123456 on December 19, 2017, 04:55:03 PM
Do you guys think the government should have and enforce a regulation that ensures the PTC system is on all trains?

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There is a mandate by the feds but, for whatever reason they keep pushing the date for the mandate to be met.

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