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Former NTSB chairman discusses fault for Metro tragedy

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

The tragic event in Washington D.C which took the lives of 9 respected citizens and injured 80 others has spawned much discussion over issues of rail safety and fault. One issue in particular which has aroused the public's curiosity (and indignation) is the fact that the NTSB recommended that Metro scrap its outdated cars - cars which include the train which derailed, killing so many - years before the tragedy. Metro did not act, and the public is left wondering why exactly a government agency with an annual budget of $10.3 billion makes safety recommendations which are not enforced.

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Dangerous crossing gets lights and gates after 30 years

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

One particular railroad crossing in Steamboat Springs, Colorado has been the site of several collisions over the past 30 years, and Union Pacific is finally doing something about it. The crossing almost took the life of Buck Chavarria, who escaped from the oncoming train by jumping out of his pickup. Chavarria says that with no warning equipment, the crossing is particularly deadly: drivers have to inch their way forward to check for oncoming trains, as the visibility is limited. Chavarria was unlucky, as his truck just wouldn't stop sliding forward one icy day as a train approached.

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Another unguarded crossing tragedy in Missouri

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

A private crossing in Springfield, MO was the location of another railroad crossing fatality earlier today. A young man pulled up to the crossing in his van, was hit by an oncoming BNSF train, and died when his van burst into flames.

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Oklahoma man dies at unguarded crossing

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

An El Reno, OK man was killed last night attempting to cross a railroad crossing on his tractor trailer when he was killed by a Union Pacific train. The rural crossing had no active warning devices whatsoever - no electronic lights, no protective gate. To most of us, that sounds like an unguarded crossing.

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D.C. Metro crash: malfunctioning circuit?

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

The investigation into the Metro crash on Monday which killed 9 and injured 80 is still in its early stages, but certain clues are being found. Investigators now think that the train operator did apply an emergency brake approximately 400 feet prior to impact. Officials are investigating why the operator did not already know a train was stopped ahead. One of six circuits in the area around the crash which would alert the operator of track information such as upcoming trains and appropriate speeds seems to be functioning improperly. More investigation is underway.

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Tragedy in D.C. – Derailment kills 9

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

A tragic crash occurred yesterday as a Metro passenger train in Washington, D.C. ran into another train at high speeds. As of now, substantial facts are of yet to be reported - the rail cars were not outfitted with recording technology which would have recorded the speed of the train and any mechanical failures. For now, however, officials do not think that mechanical failure was the problem. The rear train rammed full speed into a stopped train in between the Takoma and Fort Totten stations in D.C.

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Train derailment kills woman at crossing

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

A Canadian National freight train derailed on the edge of Rockford, Illinois last Friday. A female driver stopped at a railroad crossing lost her life due to the train derailment. In addition, several of the freight train cars carrying ethanol gas exploded, incurring burn injuries on several occupants of the car.

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Rail crossing safety: gates or fines?

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

Centralia, Washington city police ticketed roughly 40 drivers who failed to stop at flashing red lights at a railroad crossing. The roughly 40 drivers were unwitting participants in a brief project, whose stated goal was to "improve safety". This goal was supposed to be accomplished by fining the violators in an effort to teach them to act differently next time. A Union Pacific train was used, rolling back and forth to trigger the lights and catch any cars which crossed while the lights flashed.

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Stop sign at deadly crossing: too little, too late

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

What's wrong with this picture: a respected citizen and grandmother in Terra Haute, IN, loses her life at an unprotected railroad crossing, while her two passengers - her granddaughters - are both admitted to ICU. In response, a stop sign is installed at the crossing.

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Train / Train Collisions

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

Collisions between two trains are unlike collisions between two cars in numerous ways.  For one, the sheer force and volume of a train compared to a car is relative to the difference between a car and a soda can.  The impact and damage are simply devastating.  Second, unlike car accidents, collisions between two trains are always avoidable.  There is simply no excusable reason, given today's technological possibilities, that two trains should ever collide. 

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