RAILROAD EXPERT HARRY BRUCE CHALLENGES ALL ABOARD FLORIDA REGARDING ROAD BED SAFETY High Speed Rail on FECs Existing Freight Tracks is Dangerous says Former CEO & President of Illinois Central Railroad Share share share this post. All Aboard Florida plans to ram high speed trains through populated towns and residential areas with “at grade” crossings and existing roadbeds that were designed for something entirely different. They love to compare their proposed service to European high speed rail but fail to mention that European trains run on a more modern infrastructure..... and not through congested towns without the grade separation that you have in Europe. According to the Federal Train Policy report, All Aboard Florida’s proposed 32 trains meet the definition of regional High Speed Rail - they can reasonably expected to reach speeds of at least 110 miles per hour. The report further concludes high-speed tracks SHOULD NOT INCLUDE at-grade crossings, as it increases accident risk: “As train speeds increase, the risk of crashes where roads cross the rail line (“at-grade crossings”) increases, so safety dictates that high speed tracks not have any at-grade crossings.” Separating HSR from populated areas is equivalent to the Interstate Highway System -allowing trains to consistently travel at high speeds without risk from crossing traffic. Adding to the issue, Floridas topography is quite different, with waterways, causeways, draw bridges and other infrastructures that define our day-to-day life. And there are certainly traffic crossings in SE Florida - 574 of them in the 8 counties along the proposed route....at grade. Straight lines are necessary for HSR. On the Florida east coast the tracks are not straight and linear- they wander with lots of bends and weaves. The Federal Report* states, “To make very high speed operation possible, rail track must be substantially and straight, with shallow curves.” Curves and turns increase the possibility of derailment. In Santiago, Spain, a high-speed rail was derailed due to higher than suggested speeds along a turn, but the damage was controlled because of safety barriers. (bbc.in/1BbQICE). Unlike All Aboard Floridas plan, that train had safety walls in a below grade corridor along its sharp turn. If the crash had occurred along one of Dixie Highways curves, both passengers and pedestrians, houses, diners, and boutiques would have been destroyed due to the lack of safety measures and modern road beds. According to Harry Bruce, it will take an additional 5-6 billion dollars to meet new federally mandated Positive Train Control standards. According to the Federal Train Policy Report*, Many existing passenger rails have asked for more time to cover the cost. When will All Aboard Florida have the same regard for safety and quality of human life as it has for profits? *Peterman, D., Frittelli, J., & Mallett, W. (2013, December 20). The Development of High Speed Rail in the United States: Issues and Recent Events. Retrieved from fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42584.pdf Share share share this post. Electronically sign and download the Florida NOT All Aboard petition to share here: https://citizensagainstthetrain/content/handout-petitions-against-all-aboard-florida-through-out-your-community#.U7Lat6gh-IY
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 12:54:07 +0000