More on red lights...

Here is more information on the Metrolink engineer who ran the red and the subsequent reaction from politicians.

The problem with the media is that incidents like this leave so many questions. The media never gives the complete story or the "accurate" story. But as a reader, I am not necessarily informed enough to ask all of the right questions. Here are a few, however, that enter my mind. I mentioned that Bruce has a "false green" a couple of weeks ago. Would that be counted as running a red? The signal SHOULD have been red. How many times does that happen? Is there any way to know?

Is four an unusual number or run reds in a year's time? Not that it would be ok for four trains to run reds, but I am just wondering how this number compares to past years. Is the problem worse now that in the past? Better after the Chatsworth crash?

Metrolink contracted with Veolia Transportation to run its trains in July 2005. Prior to that, Metrolink was run by Amtrak. As a result, Veolia hires engineers, one of whom was Robert Sanchez, the engineer deemed responsible for the the Chatsworth crash. So I wonder about engineers hired under Veolia vs. Amtrak. And the safety record under the two contractors. Is it the same? Are things worse?

Anyway, I guess my point is that once again, the media gives information without any context so it is very difficult to judge what to make of the information. And although it is easy to point fingers at the engineers, and sometimes rightly so, I just wonder whether we are geting the full story. It is easy to throw the engineer under the bus...er, I mean the train, especially in an attempt to protect a government agency.


Here is a Los Angeles Times article about the incident.