James Weinstein is finally out as the head of New Jersey Transit. After the massive debacle of allowing his agency's rail fleet be flooded in Hoboken and Meadows rail yards during Hurricane Sandy, you would have thought he should have been fired for all the damage sustained to the rail fleet.
You would be wrong. Governor Chris Christie signaled his support for Weinstein and never sought to get to the bottom of why the rail fleet was positioned in the vulnerable areas. At first, NJ Transit claimed that they didn't think those areas would flood as it had not been in their experience during more than 30 years of operation. Then they said that they didn't have anywhere else to move the equipment and that they didn't expect the flooding.
Both points were debunked after The Record revealed that the NJ Transit disaster preparation plan included moving the rail fleet to higher ground, including in Waldwick. That would have saved significant numbers of locomotives and railcars, allowing NJ Transit to resume service much faster. It took months before anything resembling a pre-storm schedule was in place. That's tens of thousands of commuters inconvenienced, lost economic value, and in the end Gov. Christie tried to blame some low-level employee for taking unilateral action and claimed that he couldn't be fired because of civil service rules (NJ Transit doesn't have those rules).
After that debacle, you'd think that NJ Transit would be more contrite and understanding? You'd be wrong. They, along with the organizers of the Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium consistently told fans that they should take the train to the game because there weren't enough spots available for vehicles, and that you couldn't walk into the stadium due to security concerns.
Well, wouldn't you know it? The fans actually listened to all the warnings and they took mass transit. They blew past the organizers' estimates. In fact, they nearly tripled the organizers' estimates, and nearly doubled NJ Transit estimates.
That wouldn't be bad, except that the Meadowlands rail line didn't have the capacity to move that kind of number of fans. That's due in part to design, and in part to the agency's failure to have contingency plans in effect and to carry out the contingency plan.
There was apparently a plan to have buses on standby to help reduce the load on the rail service to Secaucus, but no one thought to activate it in a timely manner. That meant that there were fans who waited hours to clear the stadium. It was inexcusable.
Now, you might be wondering why this is a big deal when you can drive to a ballgame at one of the major stadiums and it could take you an hour to get out of the parking lots. That's true. You can often have delays getting out of the stadium, but those parking lots frequently have multiple egress points and distribute the vehicles onto different roads to disperse. That isn't possible with the rail service, which concentrates the passenger load onto a rail service.
Part of this has to do with the design of the stadium mass transit facilities, the Meadowlands spur line, and capacities at both Secaucus and the Meadowlands.
Well, the debacle at the Super Bowl led to Weinstein's resignation. He wasn't fired. He deserved to be fired - for Sandy. He deserved to be fired for the Super Bowl failures, but was allowed to resign, allowing him to take his pension/benefits with him. How nice of the Governor to protect his people like that.
Weinstein's failures shouldn't have been particularly surprising, given that he was in charge of the NJ MVC emissions testing program that was an absolute debacle. That $500 million contract with Parsons was a total mess, and he was allowed to continue as head of the Department of Transportation despite being integral to overseeing the program.
Now that Weinstein is behind NJ Transit, who's coming in to replace him?
Veronique Hakim, who is now head of the NJ Turnpike Authority. It's not particularly surprising that Gov. Christie is moving around officials from one state agency to another, but anyone who thinks that Hakim will do better than Weinstein ought to bear a few things in mind.
Prior to going to the Turnpike Authority, she was at the MTA as head of capital construction. During her stint there, she never met a program that she could keep on time or on budget. That includes post-9/11 work to enhance security at MTA facilities across the region. That should be a warning sign considering that NJ Transit is embarking on a program to rebuild after Sandy, including new rail yards on higher ground, improved survivability of equipment, and we need to be prepared for the inevitable cost overruns and excuses.
We must demand better of NJ Transit, and of Gov. Christie.
Showing posts with label rail safety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rail safety. Show all posts
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
It's Time For New Jersey Transit To Eliminate Midland Avenue Grade Crossing
For the second time in two weeks, a crash at Midland Avenue on the Bergen Line snarled commuter traffic during rush hour.
This time, I got an up close and personal view, since it was my train that struck a vehicle that was unlawfully in the crossing when the signal gates came down.
The collision occurred shortly before 6PM, and we sat on the train for a little more than an hour before a rescue train pulled alongside and took on the nearly 800 passengers on board our train.
This is a collision that didn't have to happen.
I've written about this particular location numerous times before.
The first time, I wrote about my experience being on the rescue train that picked up passengers from the train that struck a vehicle in 2009. Since then, there have been numerous incidents at Midland Avenue, and there doesn't appear to be any sign that NJ Transit or Elmwood Park are going to adjust the crossing to make it safer.
It happened again in 2010.
It happened in February 2012 as well.
This is the most dangerous crossing for NJ Transit and is repeatedly the scene of collisions. You would think that NJ Transit and transit officials from Elmwood Park would look to reduce the chances of collisions there.
You'd be wrong.
They've done little to resolve the problem.
That has to change - NJ Transit has been lucky that no one has died in any of these crossing incidents. The next time we might not be so lucky - a vehicle could result in a derailment and significant casualties could be the result.
So, what can NJ Transit and the town do about this?
View Larger Map
That's a map of the vicinity and Market Street is the only safe crossing in the vicinity.
There's really just one way to improve safety here. That would be to eliminate it altogether. NJ Transit should work with the town to direct traffic along Midland Avenue to Erie Avenue and then cross the tracks at a perpendicular crossing at Market Street. That's a whole lot safer than the current situation where traffic can back up and cars are stuck in no-man's land behind a closed gate.
But it appears that no one is willing to consider that particular move.
Lesser alternatives might involve restricting traffic to one-way but this crossing also involves elevation changes to go along with the odd-angled crossing. Adding additional striping and lighting and gates has done nothing to improve the safety here.
That's why the only remaining solution needs to be instituted before someone gets killed here.
UPDATE:
Turns out that the driver of the car was issued multiple summonses for careless driving and interference with transportation.
This time, I got an up close and personal view, since it was my train that struck a vehicle that was unlawfully in the crossing when the signal gates came down.
The collision occurred shortly before 6PM, and we sat on the train for a little more than an hour before a rescue train pulled alongside and took on the nearly 800 passengers on board our train.
This is a collision that didn't have to happen.
I've written about this particular location numerous times before.
The first time, I wrote about my experience being on the rescue train that picked up passengers from the train that struck a vehicle in 2009. Since then, there have been numerous incidents at Midland Avenue, and there doesn't appear to be any sign that NJ Transit or Elmwood Park are going to adjust the crossing to make it safer.
It happened again in 2010.
It happened in February 2012 as well.
This is the most dangerous crossing for NJ Transit and is repeatedly the scene of collisions. You would think that NJ Transit and transit officials from Elmwood Park would look to reduce the chances of collisions there.
You'd be wrong.
They've done little to resolve the problem.
That has to change - NJ Transit has been lucky that no one has died in any of these crossing incidents. The next time we might not be so lucky - a vehicle could result in a derailment and significant casualties could be the result.
So, what can NJ Transit and the town do about this?
View Larger Map
That's a map of the vicinity and Market Street is the only safe crossing in the vicinity.
There's really just one way to improve safety here. That would be to eliminate it altogether. NJ Transit should work with the town to direct traffic along Midland Avenue to Erie Avenue and then cross the tracks at a perpendicular crossing at Market Street. That's a whole lot safer than the current situation where traffic can back up and cars are stuck in no-man's land behind a closed gate.
But it appears that no one is willing to consider that particular move.
Lesser alternatives might involve restricting traffic to one-way but this crossing also involves elevation changes to go along with the odd-angled crossing. Adding additional striping and lighting and gates has done nothing to improve the safety here.
That's why the only remaining solution needs to be instituted before someone gets killed here.
UPDATE:
Turns out that the driver of the car was issued multiple summonses for careless driving and interference with transportation.
It was not clear why the motorist, identified as Rakesh Sharma, stopped his 2008 Mercedes on the tracks at the Midland Avenue grade crossing, according to NJ Transit spokesman William Smith. The sedan was stopped when the gates and signals went off, he added.
Sharma was alone in the car when the train crashed into its driver’s side, but not hurt in the 5:45 p.m. collision, the spokesman said. None of the 800 people aboard the Bergen County Line train were injured.
Thursday, August 01, 2013
Yet Another NJ Transit Trespasser Fatality
Well, it's been a crappy morning all the way around. NJ Transit had yet another trespasser incident with a pedestrian killed by an oncoming train just outside the Radburn Train Station. That left the morning commute for folks on my usual train line screwed. Today's incident was about a 1/4 mile from the nearest proper crossing.
This one appears to have been a suicide.
That's after another such incident last night on a nearby line. We've had an incident like this about once a month on the Main/Bergen line alone. That's despite all kinds of warnings, additional signage, and efforts to get people to understand that they shouldn't cross tracks when the gates are down and flashing.
Not much you can do when someone wants to commit suicide, but the engineer and train crews have to live with this the rest of their lives. In fact, most of the train crews have someone on their crew who has had to deal with one of these incidents - often more than once. It's part of the nature of the suburban train line with at-grade crossings, but not one you can ever get used to.
Drivers continue to ignore signage, pedestrians ignore common sense, and there are people who are absolutely determined to take their own lives.
NJ Transit has previously issued a report on how to reduce train fatalities, but without additional enforcement and better fencing to restrict access to the right of way, these are going to continue.
Heck, despite there being NJ Transit officials and the crossing gates flashing while down at the Radburn train station, people still sought to cross in front of an oncoming train. These people take their lives into their own hands - one slip and fall could mean serious injury or a fatality. It's just not worth it.
And try explaining your actions to the engineers and train crews that have to deal with those actions.
This one appears to have been a suicide.
That's after another such incident last night on a nearby line. We've had an incident like this about once a month on the Main/Bergen line alone. That's despite all kinds of warnings, additional signage, and efforts to get people to understand that they shouldn't cross tracks when the gates are down and flashing.
Not much you can do when someone wants to commit suicide, but the engineer and train crews have to live with this the rest of their lives. In fact, most of the train crews have someone on their crew who has had to deal with one of these incidents - often more than once. It's part of the nature of the suburban train line with at-grade crossings, but not one you can ever get used to.
Drivers continue to ignore signage, pedestrians ignore common sense, and there are people who are absolutely determined to take their own lives.
NJ Transit has previously issued a report on how to reduce train fatalities, but without additional enforcement and better fencing to restrict access to the right of way, these are going to continue.
Heck, despite there being NJ Transit officials and the crossing gates flashing while down at the Radburn train station, people still sought to cross in front of an oncoming train. These people take their lives into their own hands - one slip and fall could mean serious injury or a fatality. It's just not worth it.
And try explaining your actions to the engineers and train crews that have to deal with those actions.
Friday, June 21, 2013
A Bad 24 Hours For NJ Transit
Overnight, NJ Transit had a service disruption on the Main/Bergen line when a pedestrian committed suicide by standing in front of an oncoming train in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. That didn't affect nearly as many people as the major disruption that occurred this afternoon when a tanker truck was struck by an oncoming NJ Transit train in Garfield, just a few miles from where the suicide had occurred.
This is a rather dangerous section of track, as it curves through Garfield and runs through an urban area with several grade-level crossings:
View Larger Map
There is no ETA on when service will be restored, and it looks like the evening commute will suck for everyone on the Main and Bergen lines. According to NJ Transit:
Hobart Place resident Toniann Freeman was leaving her home to eat lunch with her boyfriend when the truck got stuck on the tracks.The truck appears to have stalled on the tracks, though one eyewitness says that the landing gear for the trailer hooked on the track, and was struck by an outbound train. The locomotive struck the tanker, which was forcefully separated from the cab, and the locomotive derailed. None of the six railcars the locomotive pulled were derailed.
The train crossing gates came down on top of the trailer of the truck, Freeman said. The driver got out of the truck and waved to the train headed his way. The train crashed into the trailer, dragging it forward a few feet. The trailer fell over and was dragged some more, she said.
The train, she said, swayed back and forth and then stopped.
This is a rather dangerous section of track, as it curves through Garfield and runs through an urban area with several grade-level crossings:
View Larger Map
There is no ETA on when service will be restored, and it looks like the evening commute will suck for everyone on the Main and Bergen lines. According to NJ Transit:
For travel from Hoboken Terminal and Secaucus Junction to Bergen County Line stations (except Rutherford), customers should take a Main Line train (toward Suffern) to Ridgewood, and board a shuttle train to Bergen County Line stations.It's quite possible that the derailment will affect service through the weekend as crews not only have to remove the damaged equipment, but repair that particular rail segment.
For travel from Hoboken Terminal and Secaucus Junction to Rutherford Station, customers should board an outbound Main Line train (toward Suffern) to Kingsland Station, and then take a shuttle bus to Rutherford.
For travel to Hoboken Terminal and Secaucus Junction from Bergen County Line stations (except Rutherford), customers should board an outbound train (toward Suffern) to Ridgewood Station, and then take a Main Line train to Hoboken/Secaucus.
For outbound travel toward Suffern or inbound travel to Hoboken/Secaucus from Rutherford Station, customers should board the shuttle bus to Kingsland Station, and then take a Main Line train to their final destination.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
MTA To Revisit Issue of Platform Screen Doors
Every time we hear someone has been pushed on to the tracks at a station or has been run over by a train, the issue of platform screen doors (PSDs) comes up. These PSDs would prevent someone from falling on to the tracks - either accidentally, or on purpose.
The MTA has been resistant to considering them, primarily because of the immense cost of retrofitting the systems to all 468 stations in the system.
In fact, they weren't being considered for the new stations being built as part of the 7 line extension or the 2d Avenue subway. For those stations, it was estimated that the platform screen doors would add about $1.5 million per platform side.
Up to now, the MTA has resisted the idea of PSDs, but after two homicides in the past week involving people being thrown on to the tracks, the idea is being revisited.
I think it's an issue worth revisiting.
Not only can these doors prevent the senseless deaths due to being shoved on to the tracks, but they can also improve subway efficiency by reducing the amount of trash that collects on the tracks - reducing the chances for track fires, vermin that are attracted to trash, and can improve the air quality on underground platforms.
But that all runs headlong into cost.
It would likely cost $2 billion or more to retrofit the entire system.
That's money the MTA doesn't have and can't even begin to address because of the need to complete repairs due to Hurricane Sandy.
But it is something that should be considered for high volume stations, and stations as they are renovated and rebuilt.
The MTA has been resistant to considering them, primarily because of the immense cost of retrofitting the systems to all 468 stations in the system.
In fact, they weren't being considered for the new stations being built as part of the 7 line extension or the 2d Avenue subway. For those stations, it was estimated that the platform screen doors would add about $1.5 million per platform side.
Up to now, the MTA has resisted the idea of PSDs, but after two homicides in the past week involving people being thrown on to the tracks, the idea is being revisited.
I think it's an issue worth revisiting.
Not only can these doors prevent the senseless deaths due to being shoved on to the tracks, but they can also improve subway efficiency by reducing the amount of trash that collects on the tracks - reducing the chances for track fires, vermin that are attracted to trash, and can improve the air quality on underground platforms.
But that all runs headlong into cost.
It would likely cost $2 billion or more to retrofit the entire system.
That's money the MTA doesn't have and can't even begin to address because of the need to complete repairs due to Hurricane Sandy.
But it is something that should be considered for high volume stations, and stations as they are renovated and rebuilt.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
And Again: Another NJ Transit Train Collision Snarls Traffic
Once again, a NJ Transit train struck a vehicle at one of the most dangerous rail crossings in Northern New Jersey. A vehicle was struck and damaged in the vicinity of the Midland Avenue crossing in Elmwood Park/Plauderville. Thankfully, there are no reports of serious injuries (the driver was taken to the hospital though), but there are reported delays at this point.
The fact is that all too many people see this:
... and ignore it.
People die as a result of ignoring those signals. Today's accident victim was lucky. Luck is going to run out at this crossing.
This particular crossing is notorious for accidents, primarily because of its location and how it cuts across NJ Transit's right of way:
View Larger Map
This leads to multiple accidents, both on NJ Transit right of way, and for cars attempting to avoid crossing there by traveling on Erie Street instead.
The only reasonable way to improve safety at this particular crossing is to eliminate it altogether. NJ Transit should work with the town to direct traffic along Midland Avenue to Erie Avenue and then cross the tracks at a perpendicular crossing at Market Street. That's a whole lot safer than the current situation where traffic can back up and cars are stuck in no-man's land behind a closed gate.
How many more accidents is it going to take before real corrective action is taken? Will it require multiple fatalities or a derailment? It shouldn't have to resort to that to fix this dangerous situation.
Feb 15, 2012 09:22:13 AMI've repeatedly noted accidents at this particular crossing (here, here, and here).
Main Line/ Bergen County Line trains are subject to 10-15 minute delays due to an earlier motor vehicle accident.
Feb 15, 2012 09:22:05 AM
Rail Update: Main-Bergen County Line train #1158 the 8:36am departure from Plauderville is cancelled due to motor vehicle struck by train.
The fact is that all too many people see this:
... and ignore it.
People die as a result of ignoring those signals. Today's accident victim was lucky. Luck is going to run out at this crossing.
This particular crossing is notorious for accidents, primarily because of its location and how it cuts across NJ Transit's right of way:
View Larger Map
This leads to multiple accidents, both on NJ Transit right of way, and for cars attempting to avoid crossing there by traveling on Erie Street instead.
The only reasonable way to improve safety at this particular crossing is to eliminate it altogether. NJ Transit should work with the town to direct traffic along Midland Avenue to Erie Avenue and then cross the tracks at a perpendicular crossing at Market Street. That's a whole lot safer than the current situation where traffic can back up and cars are stuck in no-man's land behind a closed gate.
How many more accidents is it going to take before real corrective action is taken? Will it require multiple fatalities or a derailment? It shouldn't have to resort to that to fix this dangerous situation.
Friday, February 10, 2012
NJ Transit Issues Report On Reducing Train Fatalities
It shouldn't take a long-awaited report to know what NJ Transit and law enforcement has to do to reduce the number of deaths along NJ Transit right of ways.
Far too many people ignore the crossing signs and/or trespass on NJ Transit property and get struck and killed.
One of the proposed ideas is to install skirts on crossing gates to thwart people from ducking under the gates to rush to the other side ahead of oncoming train traffic. Another idea is to install warning signs when trains are coming on the second track.
The proposals are as good as they go, but once again, it comes down to priorities and money. There's far too many localities where such installations are needed, and not enough money to go around to reduce the chances that someone might get struck and killed.
While nothing may prevent someone from committing suicide by train, accidental deaths can be reduced with a combination of better signage and education. Fencing will go a long way to reducing fatalities along rights of way, and the stretch from Garfield through Saddle River is safer as a result of fencing having been erected to keep people off tracks.
NJ Transit needs to be better at policing crossings as well. They should be giving tickets to people rather than just issuing warnings. It's easy to give the ticket - and people who see that tickets are being issued are less likely to do so in the future; and the fines for trespassing or going under the gates should be increased as well. Fines should be dedicated to rail safety education programs and for the installation of other safety systems along the NJ Transit system.
Far too many people ignore the crossing signs and/or trespass on NJ Transit property and get struck and killed.
One of the proposed ideas is to install skirts on crossing gates to thwart people from ducking under the gates to rush to the other side ahead of oncoming train traffic. Another idea is to install warning signs when trains are coming on the second track.
The proposals are as good as they go, but once again, it comes down to priorities and money. There's far too many localities where such installations are needed, and not enough money to go around to reduce the chances that someone might get struck and killed.
While nothing may prevent someone from committing suicide by train, accidental deaths can be reduced with a combination of better signage and education. Fencing will go a long way to reducing fatalities along rights of way, and the stretch from Garfield through Saddle River is safer as a result of fencing having been erected to keep people off tracks.
NJ Transit needs to be better at policing crossings as well. They should be giving tickets to people rather than just issuing warnings. It's easy to give the ticket - and people who see that tickets are being issued are less likely to do so in the future; and the fines for trespassing or going under the gates should be increased as well. Fines should be dedicated to rail safety education programs and for the installation of other safety systems along the NJ Transit system.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Repercussions Persist From China's High Speed Rail Crash
Victims of the high speed rail crash that killed 40 people and injured over 190 people are caught up in the unending bureaucratic and governmental nightmare. The railway "company" is the worst of a for-profit entity and a state-run and operated entity, with no oversight and accountability. Moreover, the rail company is essentially investigating itself and isn't likely to find fault where fault truly lies precisely because the company knows that its long range plans call for the export of high speed rail technology.
Add to that the fact that railway personnel were more interested in restoring service as quickly as possible and sought to bury damaged equipment rather either search for victims and survivor or carry out a thorough investigation.
Foreign entities looking for high speed rail want to see a detailed investigation, but they don't want to purchase from an entity that is rife with all kinds of technological shortfalls; it's a conundrum for the company and it seems that rather than come clean with its faults, it's going to shift blame where possible.
Add to that the fact that railway personnel were more interested in restoring service as quickly as possible and sought to bury damaged equipment rather either search for victims and survivor or carry out a thorough investigation.
Mr. Chen said he lost roughly $6,000 in cash and other belongings in the accident. The railways ministry paid him a mere $35.
He asked to be transferred from a Wenzhou hospital to a better hospital in the city of Fuzhou, his hometown. Instead, the ministry moved him to an old-age home, where he receives no medical treatment, despite continuing lung trouble, back pain and other ailments due to his injuries.
“I want to cry, but I have no tears left,” he said. “Our family has already lost someone in this accident. How can they treat us like this? I am being tortured both physically and mentally.”
Almost two months after the high-speed rail crash killed 40 people and injured 191 others, a government investigative panel is readying a report on the disaster, expected to be released this month. But the injured and the survivors of the dead say they have already reached their own conclusions. They say the railways ministry, which has a long history of corruption, skimped on safety, bungled the rescue effort, tried to hide the extent of its failings and showed a callous disregard for victims.
“They are their own little nation,” said Pasquale Liguori, who lost his daughter, a foreign-language student from Naples, Italy, who was on her first visit to China with her boyfriend. “The China Railways Ministry killed my daughter, and they want to hide everything that happened. It is revolting.”
The ministry has said it upholds high safety standards, did not prematurely end the rescue and is participating in a transparent investigation.
The ministry is indeed a fief, a holdover from the era when the state controlled all. With two million workers, it is perhaps the world’s fourth-largest employer, behind Wal-Mart. Its work force matches that of the entire United States federal government, excluding military and postal workers.
It owns the railways it regulates, a built-in conflict that critics say encourages corruption, endangers safety in the name of profit and hinders accountability. Its safety data are not publicly released. It runs its own court system and, until recently, its own police force.
The government has for over a decade discussed dividing the ministry’s business and regulatory functions, as it did years ago with the civil aviation industry. But using its clout as the nation’s mover of coal — and now, as the developer of high-speed rail into one of China’s technological and industrial crown jewels — the rail ministry has adroitly fended off reform.
“The ministry is a monster, half government agency, half for-profit company,” said Zhang Kai, a Beijing lawyer who has faced off against the ministry. “It can choose to behave like either one.”
It is not unusual for victims of government mishaps in China to find themselves isolated and helpless. Chinese authorities typically minimize events that suggest government incompetence lest they encourage social unrest.
But as crash victims and others tell it, the bureaucracy’s handling of the crash is a case in itself. Chinese officials have already declared that the disaster was preventable, caused by human error and poorly designed signal equipment. Now the ministry faces a dilemma: if the government’s investigation does not appear credible, it could hurt the ministry’s chances to export high-speed rail equipment and technology. But any admission of systemic flaws might also scare away customers.
Foreign entities looking for high speed rail want to see a detailed investigation, but they don't want to purchase from an entity that is rife with all kinds of technological shortfalls; it's a conundrum for the company and it seems that rather than come clean with its faults, it's going to shift blame where possible.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
NJ Transit Again Graces Commuters With Significant Delays
Apparently NJ Transit couldn't be held to its word after it said that it would be able to repair the "minor derailment" outside NY Penn Station in time for a normal morning rush hour.
Indeed, it had sent out alerts to riders as of around 4am claiming that there would be a normal commute, but yet alerts began being sent out as of 7am saying that delays would continue through the morning rush, and by the middle of the rush hour, the delays were reported at more than an hour. NJ Transit said that PATH would be cross honoring tickets, which meant that delays and larger than normal crowds flowed into PATH.
The delays are absolutely inexcusable. NJ Transit claimed that they had to wait until after 8pm last night to shut down the overhead catenary lines so that a crane could remove the second of two railcars that had derailed. Why wait? NJ Transit could carry out an investigation and shut down the overhead lines so that the cranes could have removed the train during the day yesterday. That wasn't done, so the delays persisted.
It turns out that this minor derailment wasn't so minor. The only thing minor about it was that there were thankfully no injuries and that the railcars remained upright. Everything else was a major headache for commuters throughout the entire region.
Now one has to wonder why NJ Transit sent out alerts saying that traffic had returned to normal and yet reverse course a few hours later when it was not completed with the repairs.
At the same time, where is Gov. Chris Christie to hold NJ Transit accountable for its woeful performance during a service disruption. For those who think that Christie's killing of the ARC Tunnel would somehow have prevented this problem, think again. The ARC Tunnel would not have been in place until the end of this decade at the earliest. That means that NJ Transit would have been building a major capital project it can't afford to actually operate and can't deal with a service disruption on its existing service without inconveniencing the maximum number of people possible.
The Legislature should be holding NJ Transit accountable as well. Where are calls for an investigation on that front? The Legislature helps set the budget and is charged with oversight, and yet there's no accountability from anyone.
That means that NJ Transit continues to lurch from one mess to another and commuters only recourse is to continue giving NJ Transit failing grades for service, especially during service disruptions.
So, if you're a NJ Transit commuter, go ahead and fill out the customer service survey and let them get an earful about just how badly they've screwed things up - even with higher fares and less service.
Indeed, it had sent out alerts to riders as of around 4am claiming that there would be a normal commute, but yet alerts began being sent out as of 7am saying that delays would continue through the morning rush, and by the middle of the rush hour, the delays were reported at more than an hour. NJ Transit said that PATH would be cross honoring tickets, which meant that delays and larger than normal crowds flowed into PATH.
The delays are absolutely inexcusable. NJ Transit claimed that they had to wait until after 8pm last night to shut down the overhead catenary lines so that a crane could remove the second of two railcars that had derailed. Why wait? NJ Transit could carry out an investigation and shut down the overhead lines so that the cranes could have removed the train during the day yesterday. That wasn't done, so the delays persisted.
It turns out that this minor derailment wasn't so minor. The only thing minor about it was that there were thankfully no injuries and that the railcars remained upright. Everything else was a major headache for commuters throughout the entire region.
Now one has to wonder why NJ Transit sent out alerts saying that traffic had returned to normal and yet reverse course a few hours later when it was not completed with the repairs.
At the same time, where is Gov. Chris Christie to hold NJ Transit accountable for its woeful performance during a service disruption. For those who think that Christie's killing of the ARC Tunnel would somehow have prevented this problem, think again. The ARC Tunnel would not have been in place until the end of this decade at the earliest. That means that NJ Transit would have been building a major capital project it can't afford to actually operate and can't deal with a service disruption on its existing service without inconveniencing the maximum number of people possible.
The Legislature should be holding NJ Transit accountable as well. Where are calls for an investigation on that front? The Legislature helps set the budget and is charged with oversight, and yet there's no accountability from anyone.
That means that NJ Transit continues to lurch from one mess to another and commuters only recourse is to continue giving NJ Transit failing grades for service, especially during service disruptions.
So, if you're a NJ Transit commuter, go ahead and fill out the customer service survey and let them get an earful about just how badly they've screwed things up - even with higher fares and less service.
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Another Day, Another Major Delay on the Northeast Corridor
Once again, the Northeast Corridor (NEC) is hit with major delays as a NJ Transit train derailed in the Hudson River tunnels between Secaucus and NY Penn Station.
The first we heard of problems was as our Bergen Line train approached Secaucus and conductors warned that there was no inbound traffic to New York so that everyone would be diverted to Hoboken.
NJ Transit first claimed that there was a signal problem before indicating that there was a disabled train causing the delays at 8:12AM. That was followed by a notice at 8:22 that there was a disabled train and 30-60 minute delays.
That's not entirely true as NJ Transit is canceling trains up and down the NEC and other lines that feed through the Hudson River tunnels, so your delays could potentially be much more severe.
NJ Transit hasn't updated to note that a train has derailed. For that, I had to check other news outlets. It turns out that two railcars on an outbound NJ Transit train from Penn Station derailed, snarling traffic through the system. 300 people were on board the derailed train, but there's no word of injuries.
Why is it that the NJ Transit alerts page is last to know what's going on?
The agency recently announced the results of a customer satisfaction survey, and the harsh reality is that the agency has failed on dealing with delays and service disruptions and today's events reinforce the fact that the agency has learned nothing from its prior issues to better distribute news of disruptions and what to do in a timely fashion.
The Twitter feed is furiously slamming the agency for not getting the job done - not informing riders of the disruptions in a timely fashion and ruining yet another commute.
UPDATE:
It's after 1PM local time and the transit agency has no idea whether they can resolve the derailed train and restore full service by the afternoon rush hour, but that news didn't come from the NJ Transit site - it came from NJ.com. They've still got a notice on their site that there are 60-90 minute delays due to a disabled train posted at 9:49AM and that other agencies are cross-honoring tickets.
The first we heard of problems was as our Bergen Line train approached Secaucus and conductors warned that there was no inbound traffic to New York so that everyone would be diverted to Hoboken.
NJ Transit first claimed that there was a signal problem before indicating that there was a disabled train causing the delays at 8:12AM. That was followed by a notice at 8:22 that there was a disabled train and 30-60 minute delays.
That's not entirely true as NJ Transit is canceling trains up and down the NEC and other lines that feed through the Hudson River tunnels, so your delays could potentially be much more severe.
NJ Transit hasn't updated to note that a train has derailed. For that, I had to check other news outlets. It turns out that two railcars on an outbound NJ Transit train from Penn Station derailed, snarling traffic through the system. 300 people were on board the derailed train, but there's no word of injuries.
Why is it that the NJ Transit alerts page is last to know what's going on?
The agency recently announced the results of a customer satisfaction survey, and the harsh reality is that the agency has failed on dealing with delays and service disruptions and today's events reinforce the fact that the agency has learned nothing from its prior issues to better distribute news of disruptions and what to do in a timely fashion.
The Twitter feed is furiously slamming the agency for not getting the job done - not informing riders of the disruptions in a timely fashion and ruining yet another commute.
UPDATE:
It's after 1PM local time and the transit agency has no idea whether they can resolve the derailed train and restore full service by the afternoon rush hour, but that news didn't come from the NJ Transit site - it came from NJ.com. They've still got a notice on their site that there are 60-90 minute delays due to a disabled train posted at 9:49AM and that other agencies are cross-honoring tickets.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
China's High Speed Rail Program Takes Hit After Major Accident Kills 32+
China has been spending billions of dollars to build and expand a high speed rail network throughout the country, but from the outset there have been questions and fears over the safety of the system.
Those fears were realized when a major accident occurred yesterday killing at least 32 people.
One train was apparently disabled due to a lightning strike, but safety systems that should have warned other trains to stop didn't work. A speeding train rear-ended the stalled train, causing a derailment. Hundreds were injured and more than 30 killed.
China's rail minister apologized for the accident, but that will be cold comfort to those who lost loved ones in the accident. The minister was also trying to blame the accident on the weather, but that would suggest that the system is not properly designed to account for common weather. Three others have been fired, but that is the tip of the iceberg.
Lightning should not disable safety systems that would have not only warned of the stalled train. The failure to warn other trains that there was a stalled train in the area led to the accident; but for the equipment failure, the accident would not have occurred. This was a design defect with the high speed rail network.
That goes to the design and safety systems built in to China's high speed rail network and if this problem occurred in this instance, what is to say that the rest of the network isn't built in the same fashion meaning that this is a disaster waiting to happen again and again until suitable backup systems are installed and/or protocols are put in place to prevent future accidents.
UPDATE:
The perception of a coverup seems to be in full gear. Instead of using all manner of investigative technologies to examine the damaged rail cars so as to prevent future accidents - as is the way the NHSTA, OSHA, and other American safety agencies do following deadly accidents, the Chinese have taken to burying the damaged railcars so as to somehow prevent "critical technologies from falling into the wrong hands". This is CYA at its worst.
Those fears were realized when a major accident occurred yesterday killing at least 32 people.
One train was apparently disabled due to a lightning strike, but safety systems that should have warned other trains to stop didn't work. A speeding train rear-ended the stalled train, causing a derailment. Hundreds were injured and more than 30 killed.
China's rail minister apologized for the accident, but that will be cold comfort to those who lost loved ones in the accident. The minister was also trying to blame the accident on the weather, but that would suggest that the system is not properly designed to account for common weather. Three others have been fired, but that is the tip of the iceberg.
Lightning should not disable safety systems that would have not only warned of the stalled train. The failure to warn other trains that there was a stalled train in the area led to the accident; but for the equipment failure, the accident would not have occurred. This was a design defect with the high speed rail network.
That goes to the design and safety systems built in to China's high speed rail network and if this problem occurred in this instance, what is to say that the rest of the network isn't built in the same fashion meaning that this is a disaster waiting to happen again and again until suitable backup systems are installed and/or protocols are put in place to prevent future accidents.
UPDATE:
The perception of a coverup seems to be in full gear. Instead of using all manner of investigative technologies to examine the damaged rail cars so as to prevent future accidents - as is the way the NHSTA, OSHA, and other American safety agencies do following deadly accidents, the Chinese have taken to burying the damaged railcars so as to somehow prevent "critical technologies from falling into the wrong hands". This is CYA at its worst.
Photos on the popular Weibo microblogging service showed backhoes burying the wrecked train near the site. Critics said the wreckage needed to be carefully examined for causes of the malfunction, but the railway ministry said that the trains contain valuable national technology and could not be left in the open in case it fell into the wrong hands.In the rush to build infrastructure, it appears the Chinese are cutting corners at every opportunity, and the results are a body count that will only keep rising.
Foreign companies maintain that some crucial technology was stolen from their imported trains. But more importantly to domestic audiences is the perception of a coverup. Initial reports of how the accident occurred are already being partly contradicted by reports in the official media.
The Railway Ministry issued a statement Saturday night that said the first train had been struck by lightning and lost power. It did not explain why the second train was not signaled to stop. In addition, new reports on Xinhua indicate that the first train had started to move by the time it was struck. The ministry has not explained the discrepency.
The wreck is one of several high-profile public transportation accidents in China recently. Early Friday, 41 people died when an overloaded bus caught fire in central China’s Henan province.
Earlier this month, an escalator at a subway station in Beijing collapsed, killing one and injuring 28. Last week alone, four bridges collapsed in various Chinese cities.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Death on the Rails
Once again, someone has decided to take their life by trespassing along the NJ Transit Bergen Line, and died when he was struck by a passing locomotive. The man was struck in the vicinity of Midland Avenue in Elmwood Park, which I've previously noted (here and here) was one of the more dangerous intersections for drivers.
It also happened at the top of a stretch notorious for suicide-by-rail. The number of incidents along the stretch has declined after NJ Transit and localities installed fencing, but the area where the latest incident occurred does not have fencing or limited access.
I was on the train immediately behind the one that struck the individual, and we were delayed 30-40 minutes but at least our crew informed us of the situation, whether we could take an alternative route, but at a minimum we were able to enjoy the air conditioning aboard.
It also happened at the top of a stretch notorious for suicide-by-rail. The number of incidents along the stretch has declined after NJ Transit and localities installed fencing, but the area where the latest incident occurred does not have fencing or limited access.
I was on the train immediately behind the one that struck the individual, and we were delayed 30-40 minutes but at least our crew informed us of the situation, whether we could take an alternative route, but at a minimum we were able to enjoy the air conditioning aboard.
Monday, May 09, 2011
Troublesome Security at Rail Tunnels Despite Warnings
This past weekend saw a spate of rail security related incidents that are quite troubling despite years of warnings about inadequate security. Al Qaeda has made it long known that it hoped to attack rail targets around the world, having carried off major attacks in Madrid and London. With the bin Laden raid, the US gathered still more intel about al Qaeda's plans to attack US rail targets perhaps to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
So the fact that a person was arrested trespassing well into one of the PATH tunnel this weekend, and another group of four people were arrested trespassing in the newly built sections of the Second Avenue subway shows an ongoing problem with security at these tunnels and subway systems. The four arrested in the Second Avenue subway tunnel were carrying Roman candles and were hoping to use the lights to take photos.
However, it's the trespassing incident in the PATH tunnel that is perhaps the more troublesome incident:
Still, rail security has lagged security efforts for air travel and random bag searches are the primary security screening measure for PATH and subways, particularly in the NYC metro area. The report doesn't indicate which subway station Rodruguez entered in Manhattan to begin his trek - as it could have been either the WTC station or Christopher street, but either way, he took his life into his own hands as a train could have come through those tunnels without much warning.
Sen. Chuck Schumer has proposed a no-use list for comparing Amtrak passenger manifests with no-fly lists used by airlines, but that's only a fraction of the passengers who use mass-transit systems nationally. It's a good start but there's no comparable lists for the hundreds of thousands of people who take commuter rail systems like NJ Transit, Metro North, or LIRR (in the NYC metro area alone) let alone subway systems like PATH or the NYC subways.
Consider that around 1.5 million people take flights in the US daily. The NYC subways handles more than 5 million daily. PATH handles another 240,000 per weekday.
That's just the millions who ride mass transit systems in the New York City metro area. The situation is even more daunting for mass transit systems nationally.
Yet, considering that PATH and NYC subways have been repeatedly targeted by active terror plots that were thwarted, the ability for individuals to enter the tunnels unauthorized is quite troubling and points to failures to secure those tunnels properly.
So the fact that a person was arrested trespassing well into one of the PATH tunnel this weekend, and another group of four people were arrested trespassing in the newly built sections of the Second Avenue subway shows an ongoing problem with security at these tunnels and subway systems. The four arrested in the Second Avenue subway tunnel were carrying Roman candles and were hoping to use the lights to take photos.
However, it's the trespassing incident in the PATH tunnel that is perhaps the more troublesome incident:
Officials said Reymundo Rodriguez, 20, of Bayonne, NJ, had hopped down onto the tracks in a Manhattan PATH tunnel. The station was being patrolled by two Port Authority cops.PATH has been repeatedly targeted by al Qaeda and jihadi groups, including a plot to bomb the tunnel so as to cause flooding within the World Trade Center complex. The Port Authority has undertaken some efforts to bomb-proof the tunnels to minimize the chances of a ruptured tunnel flooding the World Trade Center, but significant damage could still occur.
Rodriguez then walked the two miles to Jersey City.
A PA contractor, Lee Anderson, spotted him exiting at around 3 a.m. and called police.
"I just put a bomb down on the tracks," Rodriguez allegedly told officers.
The tunnel was shut down while the Joint Terrorism Task Force and bomb-sniffing dogs searched for a device.
Anderson told cops, "I asked him what he was doing in the tracks, and he said, 'The train never came . . . so I decided to walk,' "
Rodriguez also allegedly told him he saw President Obama on TV, "and he told me it was safe to walk through the tunnel."
Still, rail security has lagged security efforts for air travel and random bag searches are the primary security screening measure for PATH and subways, particularly in the NYC metro area. The report doesn't indicate which subway station Rodruguez entered in Manhattan to begin his trek - as it could have been either the WTC station or Christopher street, but either way, he took his life into his own hands as a train could have come through those tunnels without much warning.
Sen. Chuck Schumer has proposed a no-use list for comparing Amtrak passenger manifests with no-fly lists used by airlines, but that's only a fraction of the passengers who use mass-transit systems nationally. It's a good start but there's no comparable lists for the hundreds of thousands of people who take commuter rail systems like NJ Transit, Metro North, or LIRR (in the NYC metro area alone) let alone subway systems like PATH or the NYC subways.
Consider that around 1.5 million people take flights in the US daily. The NYC subways handles more than 5 million daily. PATH handles another 240,000 per weekday.
That's just the millions who ride mass transit systems in the New York City metro area. The situation is even more daunting for mass transit systems nationally.
Yet, considering that PATH and NYC subways have been repeatedly targeted by active terror plots that were thwarted, the ability for individuals to enter the tunnels unauthorized is quite troubling and points to failures to secure those tunnels properly.
Monday, November 08, 2010
Drivers Still Ignore Common Sense At Railroad Crossings
A driver in Plauderville, New Jersey is very lucky this morning after engaging in an act of supreme stupidity. The driver apparently decided that the railroad crossing gates were optional at Midland Avenue and attempted to drive around them even though a NJ Transit train was fast approaching.
The train had no chance to slow down. It clipped the car and the train thudded to a stop about a half mile down the track. I should know, since I was on board with Mrs. Lawhawk. We were delayed about 20-30 minutes while police and emergency crews responded. I was actually surprised at how quickly they were able to get the train moving again.
If this scenario sounds familiar, it's because I've written about this issue in the past - and at this very location.
The fact is that all too many people see this:
... and ignore it.
NJ Transit and local authorities have ample evidence that this is a dangerous crossing and that no amount of action short of eliminating the crossing will be sufficient to prevent accidents here. Midland Avenue crosses at an extreme angle and cars are more than willing to chance crossing even though the gates are down rather than make the crossing at Market Street.
Also, I want to thank the crew of the train for keeping the passengers informed as to the ongoing situation. When NJ Transit does something wrong, I let them hear it, but in this case when their personnel did something right, I want to let them know it as well.
The train had no chance to slow down. It clipped the car and the train thudded to a stop about a half mile down the track. I should know, since I was on board with Mrs. Lawhawk. We were delayed about 20-30 minutes while police and emergency crews responded. I was actually surprised at how quickly they were able to get the train moving again.
If this scenario sounds familiar, it's because I've written about this issue in the past - and at this very location.
The fact is that all too many people see this:
... and ignore it.
NJ Transit and local authorities have ample evidence that this is a dangerous crossing and that no amount of action short of eliminating the crossing will be sufficient to prevent accidents here. Midland Avenue crosses at an extreme angle and cars are more than willing to chance crossing even though the gates are down rather than make the crossing at Market Street.
Also, I want to thank the crew of the train for keeping the passengers informed as to the ongoing situation. When NJ Transit does something wrong, I let them hear it, but in this case when their personnel did something right, I want to let them know it as well.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Delays Mount on Northeast Corridor After Derailment at NY Penn Station
A derailed train leaving NY Penn Station has blocked eight of 12 tracks in the station, meaning that commuters and travelers are facing delays of an hour or more on the Northeast Corridor. This affects Amtrak and NJ Transit, and the problem isn't expected to be resolved until well into the evening commute.
This problem highlights one of the problems with the current layout of tracks and facilities for NJ Transit and Amtrak at NY Penn Station, and would be mitigated by additional tunnels leading from New Jersey to NY Penn Station - but not the ARC Tunnel as it is currently envisioned. If the ARC Tunnel connected with NY Penn Station, additional tracks would be accessible and the derailed train would not block 75% of the tracks available to passenger boarding for trips to points South of New York City.
NJ Transit is cross honoring tickets, as is PATH. Midtown Direct is terminating in Hoboken, instead of NY Penn Station.
This problem highlights one of the problems with the current layout of tracks and facilities for NJ Transit and Amtrak at NY Penn Station, and would be mitigated by additional tunnels leading from New Jersey to NY Penn Station - but not the ARC Tunnel as it is currently envisioned. If the ARC Tunnel connected with NY Penn Station, additional tracks would be accessible and the derailed train would not block 75% of the tracks available to passenger boarding for trips to points South of New York City.
NJ Transit is cross honoring tickets, as is PATH. Midtown Direct is terminating in Hoboken, instead of NY Penn Station.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Yet Another Reminder To Stay Off Tracks
How many times do I have to post stories like this? Earlier today, a woman was killed by an oncoming train in Ramsay, New Jersey because she ignored the crossing gates and was struck by a train passing through the station on the other track.
If you misjudge the speed of the oncoming train (which is all too possible when there are express trains that cross regularly in between local trains), or you trip and fall on the tracks themselves, you can end up quite and truly dead.
This woman appears to have completely ignored the signage, warning gates and lights, and didn't have a chance with the oncoming train mere feet away.
Now, the engineer of that train will have to live with the knowledge that he was at the controls when his train struck and killed a pedestrian.
The incident remains under investigation, but it appears the woman walked behind Train 1145, a northbound train, which had just arrived at the station, and was then hit by a southbound train on the express tracks, Stessel said.I'm constantly amazed at the stupidity of people who attempt to cross tracks when the gates are down. They will walk around the crossing gates, walk under the gates, and otherwise generally ignore all caution all to cross ahead of oncoming trains.
Several witnesses said they saw the woman crossing the tracks with her head down and possibly texting on her cell phone.
“She never even looked up,” said Dave Macrie, who saw the accident as he waited for the Hoboken-bound express train. “The collision was as head on as it could be.”
Macrie said several people screamed as the train approached.
“They were yelling, ‘Oh my God’ ... the train was 8 feet away from her,” he said.
Stessel said the conductor sounded his horn to indicate his arrival, and “then, as soon as he saw the woman, he laid on the horn and pulled the emergency brake, but he was unable to stop.”
Trains on the Main, Bergen and Port Jervis lines resumed a normal schedule by 9:30 a.m., after operating with 30-minute delays during the morning rush hour.
Ramsey was one of several stations to have supplemental pedestrian fencing installed a few years ago to prevent passengers from sidestepping the crossing gates.
If you misjudge the speed of the oncoming train (which is all too possible when there are express trains that cross regularly in between local trains), or you trip and fall on the tracks themselves, you can end up quite and truly dead.
This woman appears to have completely ignored the signage, warning gates and lights, and didn't have a chance with the oncoming train mere feet away.
Now, the engineer of that train will have to live with the knowledge that he was at the controls when his train struck and killed a pedestrian.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Port Authority Cops Hassle New Jersey Man Carrying Sealed Wine Bottles
This goes back to an incident that occurred this past New Years eve. Pavan Trivedi was carrying several sealed bottles of wine and attempted to enter PATH to go to New Jersey but was stopped by several Port Authority police, who treated him rudely and roughly. He was detained for more than an hour and issued a ticket.
The Port Authority allows sealed alcohol containers on PATH trains. A spokesperson says that those rules are overridden by public announcements during holidays, a spokesman said, claiming a public safety risk during the holidays, but there's no written policy in place. Open food and drink are prohibited.
From the reports, it appears that the ticket issued were not for possession of alcohol, and it would further appear that the officers involved overstepped their bounds and simply thought that they could get away with hassling Mr. Trivedi.
I regularly ride PATH and have often had bags searched by Port Authority police. It's not something I like, but I know that it's done to help keep myself and other commuters safe. Pushing this kind of nonsense undermines the faith in the cops to do their jobs properly and professionally. There was nothing wrong with Trivedi carrying those bottles, and they should have let him go on his way.
I expect Mr. Trivedi to prevail in court against the Port Authority, although I don't see him winning against the City of New York.
I further expect the Port Authority to provide a written policy on wine and liquor containers to avoid this problem in the future.
The Port Authority allows sealed alcohol containers on PATH trains. A spokesperson says that those rules are overridden by public announcements during holidays, a spokesman said, claiming a public safety risk during the holidays, but there's no written policy in place. Open food and drink are prohibited.
From the reports, it appears that the ticket issued were not for possession of alcohol, and it would further appear that the officers involved overstepped their bounds and simply thought that they could get away with hassling Mr. Trivedi.
I regularly ride PATH and have often had bags searched by Port Authority police. It's not something I like, but I know that it's done to help keep myself and other commuters safe. Pushing this kind of nonsense undermines the faith in the cops to do their jobs properly and professionally. There was nothing wrong with Trivedi carrying those bottles, and they should have let him go on his way.
I expect Mr. Trivedi to prevail in court against the Port Authority, although I don't see him winning against the City of New York.
I further expect the Port Authority to provide a written policy on wine and liquor containers to avoid this problem in the future.
Friday, December 04, 2009
Portal Bridge Problems Create Delays For NJ Transit and Amtrak
If you've ever had to rely on NJ Transit or Amtrak along the Northeast Corridor, the Portal Bridge across the Hackensack River is the enemy of the schedule makers.
The decrepit bridge is responsible for more than its share of delays in the network, and today is no exception. Delays of up to an hour are being reported because the bridge was stuck in the upright position after letting river traffic through, and that was followed by an overhead wire problem and/or track problem limiting traffic.
The bridge was built in 1910 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, and is owned and operated by Amtrak. NJ Transit trains operate over the tracks.
The bridge is scheduled to start in 2011 and be finished five years after that at a cost of $1.34 billion. The current movable two-track configuration will be replaced by two separate fixed span bridges. One three-track bridge will to the north of the existing span, and a two-track bridge will be to the South. The new spans will allow for higher speeds throughout the vicinity of the span; currently they are limited to 60mph, but adjacent sections can see speeds of up to 90mph.
Replacing this bridge is a priority in improving the reliability and speed along the Northeast Corridor.
The decrepit bridge is responsible for more than its share of delays in the network, and today is no exception. Delays of up to an hour are being reported because the bridge was stuck in the upright position after letting river traffic through, and that was followed by an overhead wire problem and/or track problem limiting traffic.
The bridge was built in 1910 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, and is owned and operated by Amtrak. NJ Transit trains operate over the tracks.
The bridge is scheduled to start in 2011 and be finished five years after that at a cost of $1.34 billion. The current movable two-track configuration will be replaced by two separate fixed span bridges. One three-track bridge will to the north of the existing span, and a two-track bridge will be to the South. The new spans will allow for higher speeds throughout the vicinity of the span; currently they are limited to 60mph, but adjacent sections can see speeds of up to 90mph.
Replacing this bridge is a priority in improving the reliability and speed along the Northeast Corridor.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Amtrak Infrastructure Mess
It should come as no surprise that Amtrak's infrastructure is a mess. There are dozens of bridges owned by Amtrak in the New York area, and many of them are deficient, obsolete, and have serious structural problems.
When Amtrak spends $40 million on infrastructure annually, something is going to give. And, when it does, someone may find a train derailed or someone seriously hurt. $40 million is insufficient to paint bridges and conduct routine maintenance, let alone carry out serious repairs. Yet, Amtrak has allowed its infrastructure to crumble for years on end.
It's going to take a whole lot more than $40 million to get the bridges and tunnels up to functional condition. It must take a concerted effort to do so, and if Amtrak cannot do so on the most heavily trafficked region, the Northeast Corridor, then what hope does the nation have to improve rail transit?
When Amtrak spends $40 million on infrastructure annually, something is going to give. And, when it does, someone may find a train derailed or someone seriously hurt. $40 million is insufficient to paint bridges and conduct routine maintenance, let alone carry out serious repairs. Yet, Amtrak has allowed its infrastructure to crumble for years on end.
It's going to take a whole lot more than $40 million to get the bridges and tunnels up to functional condition. It must take a concerted effort to do so, and if Amtrak cannot do so on the most heavily trafficked region, the Northeast Corridor, then what hope does the nation have to improve rail transit?
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Yet Another Reminder Why Drivers Must Respect Trains
The NJ Transit Bergen Line Train that I was on got lucky. It was only delayed for 20 minutes or so as passengers from another train were brought on board. Those passengers were not nearly so lucky. They were on board a train that struck a car that stayed on the tracks despite the flashing signals and gates at Midland Avenue in Saddle Brook.
The passenger of that car, a middle aged woman, was lucky to be alive. She was receiving medical attention but appeared to be okay.
The car wasn't.
Apologies to those who find this photo to be crummy condition. It was taken with my cellphone while the train was moving through the area, but it's still more than you'll likely see in the evening news. NJ Transit calls this 20 minute delays in both directions.
This particular intersection is one of the most dangerous in New Jersey, and there have been multiple incidents such as this in the past. It is long past time for NJ Transit and the local community to eliminate this particular grade crossing.
The fact is that all too many people see this:
... and ignore it.
People die as a result of ignoring those signals. Today's accident victim was lucky. Luck is going to run out at this crossing.
This particular crossing is notorious for accidents, primarily because of its location and how it cuts across NJ Transit's right of way:
View Larger Map
This leads to multiple accidents, both on NJ Transit right of way, and for cars attempting to avoid crossing there by traveling on Erie Street instead.
The passenger of that car, a middle aged woman, was lucky to be alive. She was receiving medical attention but appeared to be okay.
The car wasn't.
Apologies to those who find this photo to be crummy condition. It was taken with my cellphone while the train was moving through the area, but it's still more than you'll likely see in the evening news. NJ Transit calls this 20 minute delays in both directions.
This particular intersection is one of the most dangerous in New Jersey, and there have been multiple incidents such as this in the past. It is long past time for NJ Transit and the local community to eliminate this particular grade crossing.
The fact is that all too many people see this:
... and ignore it.
People die as a result of ignoring those signals. Today's accident victim was lucky. Luck is going to run out at this crossing.
This particular crossing is notorious for accidents, primarily because of its location and how it cuts across NJ Transit's right of way:
View Larger Map
This leads to multiple accidents, both on NJ Transit right of way, and for cars attempting to avoid crossing there by traveling on Erie Street instead.
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