Showing posts with label train accidents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label train accidents. Show all posts

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Government Takes Over Trains after a Recent Worst Train Accident

The Argentine government recently announced that it will temporarily take over the commuter rail operator Trenes de Buenos Aires (TBA) in the middle of the rough criticism of relatives of the victims from one of the worst train accidents in Argentina which happened last February 22.

According to a government decree, officials will take administrative technical and operational control to TBA to ensure the safety of riders.

The recent crash killed 51 people and injured more than 600 morning commuters going to work. Said accident is considered the worst train accident in Argentina since the February 1, 1970 crash which killed 200 people.

The intervention is expected to last for 15 days or longer depending on the completion of the judicial investigation determining the responsible for the tragic rail accident.

According to the initial investigation, the 8-car train from the suburb of Moreno bound to Buenos Aires struck into a barrier at the end of the platform of Once Station, one of the busiest stations in Buenos Aires.

Due to the said incident, issues about unsecure nature of commuter rail, political negligence, and the lack of state control over the management of TBA have been raised.

TBA is owned and managed by Cirigliano brothers who control the most powerful transportation groups in the area.

The decision to take over TBA came after a harsh criticism of the current administration by families of the victims and other state leaders.

At present, the main cause of the accident is still undetermined. However, proper safety measures are already being taken, according to Planning Minister Julio De Vido. Also, investigation is currently in progress and is now focused on mechanical conditions on board the train and on the actions of the 28-year old train driver, Marcos Antonio Cordoba.

Said train operator is still at the hospital for the serious personal injuries he sustained, but authorities assured that he will remain hand-cuffed during his stay in the hospital.

Trains are extremely dangerous more than any other vehicle because of the train’s inability to stop in an instant and stay on its track when colliding with another object. Therefore, though train accidents rarely occur, its impact is almost always guaranteed to be catastrophic.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Angels Flight Closes Due to Worn Out Steel Wheels

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has suspended the Angels Flight operations on Thursday after its steel wheels were found defective.

During a routine inspection, the CPUC has detected worn-out wheel flange on Angels Flight. The CPUC immediately ordered the train's administration to suspend operations, reports said.

Reports said the Angels Flight administration has not expected the sudden wear on steel wheels. The admin has just installed the wheel flange last March 2011. The engineers were inspecting the cause of damage on the tracks.

The Angels Flight administration said that operations may resume in weeks after they have completely replaced the steel wheels.

The historic railway transports commuters to and fro the 298-foot steep Bunker Hill.

The Bunker Hill residents commended the Angels Flight’s safety precaution. The suspension has prevented a second crash similar to February 2001’s fatal crash.

Supposed the Angels Flight has caused another tragic accident, the train administration may face more penalties and grave liability before CPUC and LA City Officials.

Defective train parts are a common cause of accidents in California. Worn-out parts trigger malfunction and collision with oncoming vehicles. When train operators fail to correct known faulty train parts, they can face legal consequences. 

To learn more on train accidents, you can consult with a Personal Injury lawyer in Los Angeles. Your attorney will guide you throughout the legal process. You may dial our toll free number at 1-866-772-2889, or email us at info@mesriani.com for free case analysis.