Train Wreck

America, please wake up!
Again a passenger train collision in single track territory. How long will it be until our national government will produce a comprehensive transportation plan? Why do we still condone energy saving passenger trains on single track routes, especially so in the densely traveled arteries. Such occurrences can no longer be tolerated; such routes must be double tracked.
We also must install the 21st century automatic signals; such relay capacity signals will automatically override the locomotive or train drivers command and therefore stop any train overriding a closed signal. In case of such an occurrence the signal will also alert an oncoming train or a stopped train in the same block. The, with the unique coded beep in the block is for alert reaction so that this train can also induce stopping in case off a “possible added in block derailment” affecting the counter traffic as well. The section dispatcher will also receive the alert signal for purpose of upcoming coordination. GPS train ID location should also be used for overlapping safety. Human error does occur, no man is fail-safe, therefore install helpful technology to prevent disasters as much as possible! Economical costs will justify such installations; compare the cost of Human lose and suffering as well as the destruction of infrastructure and equipment and include transit time delays as well.
The time has arrived to seriously consider our national rail corridors. The time is now to put our own country in order. Spending billions of dollars far away does not make any sense; in fact such only enhances the adversary. Therefore we must design super rail corridors for and in our own country so we can run high-speed electrified trains and energy efficient freight. We must invest our money first and foremost again here at home where we have the oversight and control over our collected tax dollars spending.
Government must team-up in supportive terms with the railroad companies to achieve results; then that is in the best interest of our national energy security situation. The benefit of domestic capital allocation for infrastructure must be taken in to account; the spending of moneys for destruction has no avail.
Sober up and start leading our country for prosperity across “the board” again.
Rudy
09/12/2008

Views expressed on this page are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Campaign for America's Future or Institute for America's Future