That’s what’s bothering me. Two minutes prior to the accident the train was stopped in Chatsworth picking up passengers. They don’t leave until the conductor gives the OK. Question - Does the conductor talk to dispatch to get the OK to proceed? If so, what did the dispatcher say (or not say)?
Mayor says “Thank you” and turns to leave. Some aide says what about Spanish and he returns to the microphone and asks if we have Spanish cameras present. Apparently so as he’s now speaking to them in Spanish.
Even if an RTC tells the crew to proceed from a station, the crew must stop for a red (we don't really know if it was red or not, pending investigation).
Intermediate block signals are automatic and will remain red if the upcoming block is occupied. The RTC has no direct control over it.
The commuter train has next to no tonnage - could have stopped on a dime.
I feel real bad for the crew. They had a bad day. People make mistakes or miss things.
But they can't just blame the engineer.
Just as in the Navy, the captain is relieved of duty if the ship runs aground. Perhaps it was a sub-ordinate’s mistake, but it's his job to double check everything.