Posted on 05/14/2015 6:56:59 PM PDT by Second Amendment First
The Amtrak train that derailed in Philadelphia on Tuesday night was equipped with an automatic speed control system that officials say could have prevented the crash, which killed eight passengers and injured hundreds. But the system, which was tantalizingly close to being operational, was delayed by budgetary shortfalls, technical hurdles and bureaucratic rules, officials said Thursday.
In 2008, Congress ordered the installation of what is known as positive train control systems, which can detect an out-of-control, speeding train and automatically slow it down. But because lawmakers failed to provide the railroads access to the wireless frequencies required to make the system work, Amtrak was forced to negotiate for airwaves owned by private companies that is often used in mobile broadband.
Officials said Amtrak had made installation of the congressionally mandated safety system a priority and was ahead of most other railroads around the country.
But the rail system struggled for four years to buy the rights to airwaves in the Northeast Corridor that would have allowed them to turn the system on.
“The transponders were on the tracks,” said one person who attended a Thursday morning briefing for the staff of members of Congress. “But they also said they weren’t operational, because of this ongoing spectrum issue.”
Despite the delays, the system may have been just months from being operational * The Federal Communications Commission had approved Amtrak’s application for the purchase of wireless spectrum from an entity called Skybridge Spectrum Foundation on March 5, clearing the way for final tests on the system, a spokeswoman for the commission said.
If the system had been operational, “there wouldn’t have been this accident,” said Representative Robert A. Brady, Democrat of Pennsylvania.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Blah, blah, blah, NYT.
Let’s hear more about technical stsrems from journalism majors.
There was a dead man switch, so the Suicide Train
would have killed no matter what.
And by months, they mean years, possibly decades.
Bovine excrement!!!!!!!!!!
And of course it’s all the Republican Congress’ fault. They’ve been operating for 4 months now, why haven’t they fixed all the decay that has taken place in the past 14 years?
Those evil republicans are somehow to blame for this, we must find a way to pin this on them.... /libtard media and pols
“only:”..moths away?
who talks like that in such circumstances??
(drum roll)
FIND ! (drum roll)
THE ! (drum roll)
REPUBLICAN!!! (theme song)
If a typical liberal takes a freeway exit ramp marked with a twenty-five mile speed limit driving at 100 mph, who’s fault is it when the car rolls over?
Bottom line, the engineer was speeding which caused the accident.
The chairman of Amtrak appears, looks and sounds like he is braindead!!! Another Obamabot appointee!!! Is the train engineer being portrayed as another “Gentle Giant” like Obama’s “son”, the would be cop killer, Michael Brown???
The only thing and organization the USA federal government can run effectively is the USA Military!!! They fail at everything else!!! The powers that be up to Obama should be giving the third degree to this, at a minimum, careless train engineer. Instead they are coddling him like he was a saint!!! He must have something really good on Obama & Company!!!
“...In 2008, Congress ordered the installation of what is known as positive train control systems, which can detect an out-of-control, speeding train and automatically slow it down. But because lawmakers failed to provide the railroads access to the wireless frequencies required to make the system work, Amtrak was forced to negotiate for airwaves owned by private companies that is often used in mobile broadband.”
Democrats had majority control in Congress from January 2007 until they lost the House in 2010.
“...But the rail system struggled for four years to buy the rights to airwaves in the Northeast Corridor that would have allowed them to turn the system on.”
Curious IF Amtrak pleaded their case for the airwaves necessary, and what was Congress’s response?
Seems to me I’m reading a lame excuse rather than a reason.
Gee, if only trains didnt need Engineers and planes didnt need pilots..we wouldnt need to worry about someone deliberately crashing them..gee, with liberals its always someone elses fault isnt it..the second this happening they were looking for a way to blame Republicans..its never anyone’s fault but the mean mean GOP
Lawsuits against Amtrak will be coming and guess who will be on the hook for making settlements - yep, you and me.
The systematic failures leading to this tragedy are too numerous to count.
The mindless bureaucracy shoots.. and scores .. again..
The claim made today at a presser was there is no off the shelf equipment that could be readily implemented.. and there was safety control stuff being prepped in the pipeline.
also this is one of the densest traffic corridors rail-wise with multiple major players who have already spent billions over the years for improvements in safety and equipment..
sadly, if this crash turns out to be operator induced, all that is meaningless..
and even sadder is that they had hoped to have the new safety system going by the end of the year..
“But the system, which was tantalizingly close to being operational, was delayed by budgetary shortfalls, technical hurdles and bureaucratic rules .”
Obama administration since 2008. He approves the budget that the senate never sent him in 6 years after congress created it.
Want to blame the accident on someone, lame it on Harry Reid.
My gut is telling me that the activist engineer was trying to prove a point on the eve of the congressional vote.
“Missed it by that much.”
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