METRA train accident

[Fly_Southwest]

My dad just called...he was on his way home from work today (10-26) on the 5:04pm train from Chicago to Aurora, IL when around the Cicero Ave. station somebody was hit by that train...no news out..but when it does ill post it.

As of two hours later, he is still on the train they are getting a new one. I hope they turn out OK, they don't always die.

[Fly_Southwest]

For those who don't know- METRA is a train that operates throught chicagoland and into WI and IN. www.metrarail.com

[Airbus_A320]

So he had to stay on the train for 2 hours b/c some looser decided to get hit by a train?

I would be pissed

[ATLcenter]

Some was hit by a MARTA train recently in Atlanta. MARTA is like this subway system. This old lady got clobbered when she leaned onto the tracks to pick up her coat and a train whacked into her...i think they closed that station for sometime...

I've also heard that an average of nine people die on the Mumbai suburban railroad per day. Being Indo-American, and having rode on the trains in question, i expected worse...

[ptbodale]

Not much compassion there A320. You have to feel for someone who feels so distressed with life they have to kill themselves.

[Airbus_A320]

Not much compassion there A320. You have to feel for someone who feels so distressed with life they have to kill themselves.

I understand what you mean... but my point was that I would be pretty mad if I was stuck on a train for 2 hours because someone decided to commit suicide. They should let the passengers off of the train and put them on a bus or something to the next station instead of making people wait. Also for people that get hit accidentally... they have the yellow area/line for where you shouldn't stand, yet people always stand right next to the tracks anyways

[MD11Forever]

Not much compassion there A320. You have to feel for someone who feels so distressed with life they have to kill themselves.

Forget the idiot who got hit...think about the crew on the train that became the unwilling insturment of someone's death. People tend to forget that there is at least one person up there running the damn thing that can't stop it before impact...
Been there, done that, and it ain't fun.

[Fly_Southwest]

They have no idea yet if it was a suicide or an accident. You would have to sit for a while as they have to clear the tracks and investigate etc. I should call his cell now to get an update.

[MD11Forever]

They have no idea yet if it was a suicide or an accident. You would have to sit for a while as they have to clear the tracks and investigate etc. I should call his cell now to get an update.

Correct. In a crossing accident or pedestrian fatality the police take over along with railroad officials...the train is "detained" until all the facts are known, or as many as possible. In addition, in a grade crossing accident, a signal maintainer and track inspector generally inspect the crossing to make sure that the signals were/are operating properly and that there is no track damage. In certain cases a person from the railroad mechanical department may have to inspect the locomotive to determine if it is safe to operate or must be set out for repair.
We've more or less got a whole set of things we need to do in an accident...and it generates paperwork you wouldn't believe.
I've had my train held 2 hours for a non-fatal grade crossing accident, and sat behind another train that hit a pedestrian for 4 hours before things moved again.
Surprising that Metra hasn't gotten the PAX a bus yet to get them off the train.

[Airbus_A320]

Surprising that Metra hasn't gotten the PAX a bus yet to get them off the train.

My point exactly....

[Leftseat86]

Out of all the ways to end it, getting hit by a train would be pretty low on my list...

[MD11Forever]

Out of all the ways to end it, getting hit by a train would be pretty low on my list...

Yeah it isn't a very pretty way to go. I could tell stories...

[herpa2003]

I was stuck on an Amtrak train for 8 hours this past winter when the train in front of us hit a person. Turns out that they were shot and then their body (not sure if they were alive or dead at this point) was put on the track in front of the train. The trip was supposed to take 6 hours; it ended up taking 14 because we sat on the track stationary for 8 hours.

[matt1168]

Accidents of this nature are extremely upsetting not only for the families of the victim, but also for the train operator and his/her family, because many of them lose their jobs over this uncontrollable happening, in NJ Transit cases anyway.

That happens around here along the NJ Transit line all the time. The NJ Transit Atlantic City Line (yes, I ride it to work most days) goes from Philadelphia to Atlantic City via Lindenwold (some trains end at Lindenwold, where most people get off anyway to take the subway to Philadelphia, as it's cheaper and quicker).

Anyway, the southern part of NJ in between Lindenwold and Atlantic City is basically marshes and forests with little towns in between. The train is one track running at grade level through the forests and towns. In 2 or 3 towns along the line, the train is in between 2 streets at grade, basically in the "median", with frequent sidewalk and street crossings. Althogh trains are kept at speeds of 25 MPH in these areas, many, many accidents still occur, either by those who are unaware of the train coming (many sidewalk crossings have no lights or gates; just a sign), those who want to end their life, or mainly those not patient enough to wait the extra minute for the train to go by, so they run across thinkingthey'll make it. I have been once on a train which was held for a while because it hit a pedestrian (most accidents in these towns are pedestrian accidents), but NJ Transit sent 2 coach buses over to transport us to the next station, where a train was sent just a bit later.

Just for a bit of vizualization, a common place where people would cross the tracks:

[JJR]

Once every few years we have an accident up here in my home town of Schaghticoke (NY).... The past few times have been people tanked or sloshed out of thier minds and sitting/passing out on the rail..... one other case was suicide......

Id like to thank George for showing some light on what actually happens in a tragic incident like this... Its cool to have a cat like you around that knows the deal!!! (Ive always been a rail fan, but never put in the will or effort to chase it)