[re_nortex]

This list of Amtrak Accidents shows there have been a lot more than even I thought. I have nothing against rail transportation in theory (although zotted FReeper Willie Green soured me on it since he used to advocate it). In fact my grandfather worked for the P&LE. But any form of transportation is far more efficient and safer when it's controlled solely by private enterprise.

[the OlLine Rebel]

9 of those 17 (not a big number itself in 10 years) were not the RR’s fault. Cannot be helped.

7 of those were idiots on the track, not respecting RR which is typical.

1 was “sabotage”, though I do not remember what that would be. The other, the big accident, was an errant barge pilot damaging the bridge the RR would cross before anyone knew what was going on.

As for the number stats, notice these are not defined strictly. The first notes “highway” - i.e, dummies on the road. The 2nd chart indicates casualties, which strictly speaking does not simply mean fatalities, but “wounded and killed” as in war. Either way, the numbers sometimes represent again, people getting near the RR by trespassing on the tracks personally as well as automotive-wise. They do not necessarily represent passenger casualties, but peripheral as well.