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consider replacing rail-based technology with ascending truck-based autonomous technology to some greater or lesser degree? Such would eliminate the actual advantages rail DOES have; foremost being fuel efficiency. Second: even assuming you can get acceptance of autonomous trucks; when one breaks d...

If ECP braking were installed, wouldn't it have caused all cars to brake at as close to the same time as possible given the speed of light instead of leading cars braking before trailing cars? Yes, the "signal" to apply, or release the brakes, would be practically instantaneous with ECP b...

What would EP braking have done to prevent a bearing journal from self-destructing? In this case, not much. But ECP begets a consist-length data network, and that would allow not just brake status reporting, but hotbox and other conditions as well. In the case of https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations...

Investigation is warranted but it does seem premature to officially assign blame before even the official NTSB investigation is complete. I'm not sure what an investigation may show that reduces NS's liability on this. It's their track, it's their consist. They didn't hit someone at a crossing. May...

When can we expect the NTSB to complete its investigation? The NTSB is very deliberate and detailed; they are never fast at issuing a report. Occasionally, they will issue an alert for a found hazard that may recur, such as the un-lubricated jackscrews on the Air Alaska flight or similar; then it's...

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2023/02/10/east-palestine-train-derailment-video-fire-axle-alert/stories/202302100070 has a link showing a hot box ~20 miles before the site. <iframe src='https://players.brightcove.net/1105443290001/19b4b681-5e7c-4b03-b1ff-050f00d0be3e_default/index....

Metrorail operator arrested on suspicion of operating train while intoxicated A Metrorail operator was arrested on Friday, December 23, 2022, on suspicion of operating a train while intoxicated (DWI), according to a public Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) document. The operator of the Blue Lin...

I've wondered if dwell could be reduced by designating the end doors as enter only, and the center as exit only.

Difficult to retrain the ridership, but as close to the Spanish solution as possible.

When the railroads preach safety, and hold the employees unto 100% rules compliance, how can they expect someone to be in a position to do so with an average of 12-15 hours between runs? It's impossible for one to remain focused with a schedule like this. It's just not safe. The NTSB has been quite...

True, nowadays, an Officer leaves the Flight Deck, an Attendant will move up there, presumably to prevent a rerun of the Germanwings incident and likely the Chinese one as well FWIW: the pre-Germanwings reason was far more straightforward. Nobody want the PIC to have to stand up & go to unlock ...

Given the Mississippi is all but shut down, the railroads are the only thing carrying an awful lot of farm commodities....

Never attribute to malice that which is better explained by incompetence.

The gadgets will fail all by themselves; no sabotage required...

- Wireless controls. The 8000 series will use controls that are to IoT standards and be fully wireless. This eliminates a significant amount of wiring needed within the trains which saves labor costs. IoT "standards"??? What standards? The downside is: everything is more complicated, less...

And the airport seemed to make sense at that time, especially when they had a special access road to take it from the newly completed beltway right up to the terminal. I thought the Dallas Access Road was built after IAD opened, and no one wanted to go that far west on local roads. It was built wit...

I've long thought WMATA should have thought far enough ahead to, on outside dual platform stations, have a center passing track. Such would allow an express to pass a local in the station. And the majority of stalled trains are at a station, with brake or door issues. With a passing track, that woul...