Since the Chinese witnessed their high speed rail system rack up over 40 fatalities last August in an accident that has since been blamed on design flaws in the rail signal equipment, many critics of high speed rail have used this incident for their rationale that high speed rail isn't safe.
As you will see in the article below, this couldn't be any farther from the truth. High speed rail's safety record, which has seen zero fatalities in France, Spain, and Japan and only one in Germany, is light years ahead of the automobile.
We've been told that building I-69 is necessary for the safety of those commuting from Evansville to Bloomington. This couldn't be any farther from the truth as well. Although automobile fatalities are decreasing sharply, they aren't anywhere near the safety level of high speed rail.
Every year, over 30,000 Americans die in automobile related accidents. There were 814 fatalities in 2008 in Indiana, and In 2009, 680 people died on Indiana roads. This does not include those who were injured but survived, and it does not include damages done by the automobile to personal property.
The following article, which can be found on the website for California's proposed high speed rail system, illustrates perfectly why we need to invest in high speed rail.
**********************************************************************************
http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/safety.aspx
Why are high-speed trains the safest form of transportation?
High-speed train systems have been operated safely every day in other parts of the world for many years. The unparalleled safety record for high-speed trains is based upon their actual operating experience. For example, in Japan high-speed train operations began in 1964. In over 44 years of operation, Japanese high-speed trains (the “Shinkansen”) have carried more than 9 billion passengers without a single train related fatality. In France, their high-speed trains (the “TGV”) have been operating for 27 years and currently carry more than 100 million passengers a year. Like Japan, the French high-speed train system has never had a single high-speed train related passenger fatality on the completely dedicated new line such as will be built in California.
In contrast, the automobile is unquestionably the most used and most dangerous when comparing auto, air and rail modes of transportation. In 2004 alone, there were over 4,000 fatalities and more than 200,000 nonfatal injuries on California highways. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that deaths and injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for persons between the ages of 4 and 33 in the United States. With more and more vehicles on our highways, the potential for automobile accidents increases.
What makes high-speed trains so safe?
High-speed trains have the proven record as the safest and most reliable form of transportation in the world as a result of separating high-speed trains from other forms of traffic and implementing automated positive train control that safeguards against human error.
High-speed trains operate on grade separated tracks designed for high-speeds. Most train accidents are the consequence of passenger and freight trains using the same tracks and with a signaling and switching system that depends on humans. 87% of California’s 800-mile route will be on new completely separate track reserved for the exclusive use of high-speed trains.
The key distinguishing reasons for the near perfect safety record of high-speed train travel in Europe and Asia are summarized below. (The California High-Speed Rail Project will incorporate all of these safety features, building upon the proven safety and design criteria used for existing high-speed train systems in Europe and Asia):
The entire high-speed train system is fully access controlled and grade-separated (there are no at grade crossings with roads, pedestrians, or other rail services), eliminating pedestrian and motor vehicle conflicts.
The high-speed train systems are completely double-tracked with additional tracks at intermediate stations to support express operations.
The trains are centrally monitored and controlled, effectively preventing operators from making serious errors, stopping or slowing trains automatically in the event of external problem such as earthquakes, objects falling on the tracks, or gale force winds. High-speed train traffic control and communications systems are state-of-the-art, regulated, and managed during all hours of operation. These systems monitor and limit the train’s speed, schedule, routing, and headway (following distance behind another train). These systems, combined with the operator, have integral redundancy and ensure safety.
Heavy, conventional freight trains do not share infrastructure designed for high-speed operations.
High-speed trains use a cab signaling system that transmits commands directly to the driver. This technology makes high-speed operation possible in darkness, rain, and fog. In Japan, even moderate snowfall does not slow the Shinkansen because of special ice-melting equipment built into the rail bed.
Unlike aircraft, high-speed train systems are not subject to turbulence. Passengers may sit without seat restraints and may stand and walk comfortably even at maximum speeds and around curves.
Although high-speed train systems do operate in highly seismic areas, such as Japan, no fatalities have ever occurred as a result of a seismic event. The control system is linked to motion detectors close to faults having the potential to affect the line, even hundreds of miles from the line The systems stops the trains when an earthquake is detected, and at-grade construction in fault zones further improves safety.
Like airplanes, and other public intercity modes, high-speed trains and the infrastructure they operate on (tracks, control systems, and electrification systems) are be maintained on a regular schedule and the maintenance records would be subject to inspection by the Federal Railroad Administration. This regular inspection of both rolling stock and track would ensure the safety of the high-speed train system.
In California, key safeguards will prevent unwarranted access to the system. The California high-speed train system would be a fully grade-separated and fully access-controlled guideway with intrusion monitoring systems in place. This means that the train system’s infrastructure (e.g., mainline tracks and maintenance and storage facilities) would be designed to prevent access by unauthorized vehicles, persons, animals, and objects and to detect breaches of the system. The capital cost estimates include allowances for appropriate barriers (fences and walls), state-of-the-art communication, access-control, and monitoring and detection systems. All aspects of the California high-speed train system would conform to the latest federal requirements regarding transportation security. High-Speed trains will not require lengthy “airport style” screenings because like other passenger rail transportation services operating throughout the United States, high-speed trains do not present as great a security risk as air transportation.
************************************************************************************
It's pretty obvious that high speed rail, not I-69, is the answer to safety for those traveling to and from Bloomington. Furthermore, I-69 does not provide a safe route for those going from Evansville to Terre Haute or for those going from Terre Haute to Bloomington.
Wouldn't it be nice to pick up the paper and read "Zero Fatalities in Indiana" everyday? Wouldn't it be nice to ride safely on high speed rail knowing you will reach your destination? And wouldn't it be nice knowing that high speed rail will not cause damage or harm to any of neighborhoods it travels through?
It you want to be safe, you better ride the rails!
(distinctivenurseries.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment