Metrolink Train Crash

[Magicland]

A head-on crash between a Metrolink passenger train 111 from Union Station to Moorpark and an 80 car freight train has happened in Chatsworth Ca. at 4:32 PM PDT. 350 people on board the Metrolink train, possibly 15-20 dead, over 100 injured. Live reports: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/livenow?id=6388217
Video: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=6388312&t=2&sub=1
Slideshow: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/gallery?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=6388275&photo=1

UP ran the freight, I'm betting it was their fault. Get the lawsuits ready...

More than 300 LA firefighters are on scene... More info as it becomes available. The MetroLink Train's 450 ton engine was pushed back more than halfway through the car behind it by the impact. Looks like about 6 cars of the freight train piled up behind its two engine.

1-800-371-5465 Metrolink Victim Information Line, please call ONLY If you think you have a family member on the train.
If you're in the area and can donate blood, please do. UCLA blood & platelete center will be open tomorrow morning from 8 am to 1 pm. Appointments can be made by calling 310 794-7217

A reunification site has been set up at Chatsworth High School 818 678-3422

 

[Klinger]

I was debating if I should post this or not about two hours ago when I saw it on the news....

 

[greywolfretired]

I saw it on the CNN news , very sad that there is loss of life ,it looks like a serious wreck. 10 minutes ago 8:30 pacific time they were listing 10 dead 40 injured.

 

[TSwenson]

At this point, speculation into the cause is pointless without more information. While this is certainly a bad wreck, we should consider the providence of this occurring in a relatively accessible site as opposed to somewhere in which emergency services would not be able to respond sufficiently. Most importantly we should remember the people involved, whether in thought or prayer.

 

[Gabranth]

currently there is now 15 dead and at least 40 injured,

 

[Gabranth]

News has came out now that:

20 people dead, most crushed in first carriage
135 injured,
Total of 222 people on train,

They where doing around 40mph each, so a combined force of 80mph,
unknown condition of the freight crew,
This is the worst disaster since 2005, where a fuel soaked SUV was parked on the track and was hit by a train that derailed and collided with a train on the other track, 11 dead, 180 injured,

 

[Gabranth]

The following trains will not be running/running at full length, untill further notice:

1) Pacific Surfliner Trains (No aternitive transport)
2) Coast Starlight Trains (Begins and ends in Santa Barbara, Aternitive transport to L.A)
3) No trains to texas(Due to hurricane ike)

 

[Euphod]

Silver lining is that the commuter was being pulled instead of pushed. Can you imagine? I'd rather not.

 

[jadebullet]

This truly is horrible. My prayers go out to the victims and their families.

 

[perry_weekley]

When I first read the story on MSNBC it was only 2 dead. Seems like it's 10 times as worse now.

 

[Vern]

UP ran the freight, I'm betting it was their fault. Get the lawsuits ready...

Would suggest this comment displays crass insensitivity and I'm surprised the mods haven't already removed it (not to mention potentially libellous on behalf of the OP and forum host). What if someone from UP directly or indirectly reads that?

Stick to the known facts and let the professional investigators do their job.

But apart from that, yes terrible accident and vondolences and sympathy go out to all involved.

 

[Mick_Berg]

Would suggest this comment displays crass insensitivity and I'm surprised the mods haven't already removed it (not to mention potentially libellous on behalf of the OP and forum host). What if someone from UP directly or indirectly reads that?

Stick to the known facts and let the professional investigators do their job.

But apart from that, yes terrible accident and vondolences and sympathy go out to all involved.

Yes, moderators please remove that comment. This is a terrible tragedy. I live only a few miles from Chatsworth, and I rode on the line only a month or so ago. I'd even thought of doing a Trainz route of it, but that won't happen for a long time now.
Mick Berg.

 

[Euphod]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,421801,00.html

Actually, this report is placing the blame on the Metrolink Engineer for running a red. Either way, it's a tremendously terrible accident.

 

[freightcar2]

Ouch! :'( R.IP. :'(

 

[Magicland]

Would suggest this comment displays crass insensitivity and I'm surprised the mods haven't already removed it (not to mention potentially libellous on behalf of the OP and forum host). What if someone from UP directly or indirectly reads that?

Stick to the known facts and let the professional investigators do their job.

But apart from that, yes terrible accident and vondolences and sympathy go out to all involved.

Sorry spud, I'm not a reporter, I'll post what I like. There's nothing wrong with what I posted, and I encourage folks from UP to read it, maybe they'll improve their abysmal safety record (UP has more accidents than any other class 1 US railroad, in fact, nearly 1 out of every 3 train accidents in the US involves the UP). You need to read up on libel too, as you seem to not know much about it.

For me to libel someone, I'd have to include a FALSE STATEMENT OF FACT. What I posted was speculation, NOT a statement of fact. Had I posted "it's UP's fault" (and I did NOT), that would potentially be libelous, however, as UP is a huge, well known corporation (legally akin to a "public figure"), they'd have to prove that the statement was not only incorrect, but also posted with actual malice, in order to be found as libelous.

Opinion (which is what my statement was) CANNOT be found defamatory, so there's no chance of it being libelous.

For the record, it is now being reported that the Metrolink train ran a red signal. How they don't have some sort of automatic brake system in an area of joint passenger/freight use is beyond me (or perhaps they do, and maybe it failed as well). Hopefully this accident will shut up the opponents of "push-pull" service, as it demonstrated that it's no safer having a locomotive pulling the train than a cab car.

 

[Euphod]

Hopefully this accident will shut up the opponents of "push-pull" service, as it demonstrated that it's no safer having a locomotive pulling the train than a cab car.

No safer as in "we can still run into something", I agree, but I imagine the loss of life and injuries may have been greater if the three cars were being pushed by the engine. I'm no expert, but having the heavier engine in front to absorb more of the force seems to be a good idea. It's better than a passenger car sandwich!

 

[applegathc]

ya

No safer as in "we can still run into something", I agree, but I imagine the loss of life and injuries may have been greater if the three cars were being pushed by the engine. I'm no expert, but having the heavier engine in front to absorb more of the force seems to be a good idea. It's better than a passenger car sandwich!

And if a Metrolink train collides with the cab car leading, head on into a freight train, the Metrolink diesel would keep going and plow the metrolink train into the freight!

 

[jadebullet]

Plus, physics wise, the metrolink engine, had it been in the rear pushing, might have caused more damage because it would still be pushing. (the last 2 cars stayed on the tracks.)

Cab cars are not as safe for passenger as having a locomotive. A cab unit hitting a gasolene tanker would not only kill the crew, but most of the passengers, whereas the locomotive and crew would be the only casualty of the collision in the same case. (im going off of facts and actual accidents BTW)

Now I apologize for continuing to push this thread off track, so lets get back to the actual discussion at hand. There probably weren't alerters on the track because it seems to be a mainly freight track.

Something tells me that the death toll is going to be alot worse when all is done.

 

[K4driver]

just hope there is not much more death then at the moment 25 dead, ......let's just hope the "black boxes" were spared so Metrolink and Up can lean what happened and prevent it from happening again.:'(
Pray for the familes

 

[Eboy87]

......let's just hope the "black boxes" were spared so Metrolink and Up can lean what happened and prevent it from happening again.:'(
Pray for the familes

They've already recovered the black boxes from both locomotives, and the camera footage from the fright.

Correct me if I'm wrong, and I probably am since I don't actually live in California, nor have I ridden Metrolink, but do the trains go faster than 79 mph? If so, it's my understanding that they're required to have some sort of ATS system to stop the train if it runs a red. Then again, it's been a while since I've looked up the rules on such things.