Amtrak Derailment

Jesus fucking Christ.

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

The US Government has been trying to derail Amtrak for decades.

Yeah, not good. All my hopes for the injured and condolences to the families of the dead.

The worst thing is, this was forseen:

One account I read was that it was a trial run along a newly opened overpass, and there'd been some questions about safety issues beforehand.

ETA: matthunter beat me to it.

Thing is, I'm all for high-speed rail as an alternative for car use, but it's a fucking money grab in both the US and the UK and both nations are shit at regulating the industry. THIS is why we need regulations.

When I read about the dangling train car, I was half expecting Spider-Man to show up. Then I shot myself because I'm a terrible human being.

This sucks. The train is a great way to travel. Much nicer than air travel has become. But you cannot skip safety regulations and hope things go ok. I wonder if anyone knows where Samuel Jackson was at the time of the crash. I assume Bruce Willis is ok.

Too soon?

We were briefly considering Amtrak for our next visit to the family in Raleigh. Then I actually checked into it and - jeez. It costs twice as much as airline tickets.

He's complaining about the at grade crossings in Lakewood. Wants WSDOT to fund under and over passes.

There are no grade crossings in this area.

Terrible tragedy. I've taken that train in the last year.

In terms of communications it's been a real clusterfuck of a morning. The accident occurred in unincorporated Pierce County (so Pierce County Sheriff's Office would normally take lead) however some of the cars fell on I-5 so Washington State Patrol is also involved. The train itself was operated by Amtrak, but it is Washington DOT funded. The tracks however are owned by Sound Transit, although WSDOT paid for this section with a Federal ARRA grant (Sound Transit currently uses about half of the Point Defiance Bypass [Tacoma Dome Station to Lakewood] and has plans to add service further south to DuPont but that's mid next decade IIRC). Throw in NTSB and you got a lot of lot of people talking.

Is it the speed of this train that was new?

New is what the media around here is saying as much as they can.

This was the first day of revenue service on this portion of the Point Defiance Bypass track. Before today Amtrak used the BNSF mainline between Tacoma and Olympia. Sound Transit has been operating Sounder commuter trains on the northern half of the PDB between Lakewood and Tacoma (and then to Seattle on BNSF mainline).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Defiance_Bypass

To the shock of fucking no-one, Trump uses this tragedy for political aggrandisement:

Indeed, and yet paradoxically, it's one of the few things he's said that's technically correct.
Technically, on the basis on look who said it.

Bad form to be pushing politics while they're still mopping up blood at the scene.

Especially as he's as likely to deliver on this monetary promise as he has on all the others, which is to say not at all.

TRUMP DIDN'T WAIT FOR THE FACTS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Clearly he didn't wait for the fax either!

My daughter lives out there! I think she's on vacation in Oregon as we speak but still.....damn.
Anywho enjoy this song about trains! Who doesn't love trains?

He knows more than the eyewitnesses.

Trump likes trains that don't crash, okay?

Consider how much your time sitting in airports is worth. Then consider whether you'd rather cram yourself into an airline seat with your knees up to your chin, or enjoy an extension of your vacation, with great scenery, a chance to choose your seat and walk around whenever you want, eat whenever you want, arrive rested and content instead of all wound up. Then consider how many people die in airline accidents as opposed to train accidents.

But your compassion for this morning's casualties is noted.

Meanwhile, @oldfella1962, this is my favorite train song:

I took the Amtrak from Portland ME down to Boston a couple times. I would have rather driven myself. I like to be in control.

Meh, YMMV. I love train travel.

And yet, his plan cuts funding for such things, by over $600 million.

I have to say, so far I'm pretty pleasantly surprised by this thread. Good job, WF!

Shocking isn’t it!!!

It is out of the proper order of things.

Therefore:

Shutup, you patronizing twit.