Am I missing something?

September 22, 2008

I read the Sunday paper (LA Times) this morning with an explanation of the tragic head on train collision that happened a week and a half ago not far from here :

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"Engineer Robert M. Sanchez pulled Metrolink 111 out of the Chatsworth station and was rolling north at 54 mph. About a mile later, he entered a restricted speed zone and throttled down to 42 mph."

"Just ahead on his right side, was a red light. It was a warning to stop so that an oncoming Union Pacific freight train could move off the main track and onto the siding. But Sanchez sped past the light and barreled over the switch mechanism that was supposed to guide the other train onto the side rail, according to federal investigators."

"A quarter mile later, along a sharp curve in the tracks, the two trains collided at a combined speed of 83 mph. Sanchez never hit his brakes."
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Cut and dry I guess. Nothing wrong with the system, just a careless driver. Previous reports also indicate he may have even been "Text Messaging"!!

Wait a minute. Mr. Sanchez lost his life in that collision, and here's what doesn't add up :

1. He slowed down when he entered the restricted speed zone - he obviously wasn't asleep.

2. The article says he passed a red light and ignored it. He was supposed to "stop" so that the freight train could move off to the side track. He didn't stop, but instead blew through the switch resulting in a head on collision a quarter mile later. Ok - get out your calculators. If the train was moving at 42 mph, it took 21 seconds from the red light until the trains collided.

Can trains stop that fast? Do we cut it that close all the time, and count on engineers pulling over at red lights with 21 seconds separating passengers from head on collisions?

-- Greg