Is the CSX train derailment a serious problem?
By 13tyates
@13tyates (1606)
United States
August 21, 2012 12:10pm CST
A train ran and owned by one of the largest railway companies in the country had a train derail late last night in the eastern part of the country.
It seems that many people see things like this happen and it starts to raise many questions.
Are the railways in our country actually safe?
Do they actually have a reputable program in place to keep the thousands of miles of line in good condition?
Also, are people safe being so close to all of these rail lines?
This is probably just one of those freak accidents where maybe the conditions were not optimal and it just lead to some problems on the tracks. Lets hope this is one of those things that does not start to happen more often, which I do not think it will.
I began to research this topic because recently railroads, trains, etc. have begun to interest me and this happened right after I started researching the topic. It seems CSX (The owner of the railway and train) has had a very clean record of being a safe and reliable company and this is just one of those things that can not be avoided and was just an accident.
So do you think this was just one of those freak things? Or is there more to it and our nation's rail lines? Please jump in on this discussion! 
1 person likes this
3 responses
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
21 Aug 12
*jumps in*
the rail system is really only used for carrying goods now, not really used for passengers, atleast I don't believe it is. I suppose they still have people who check the tracks, but I've never seen any tracks checked around here. That doesn't mean anything.
I am sure it was just a freak accident, unfortunate, but still that's all there is to it. They would (the companies that is) make sure that the railways are safe for the train, it's freight and it's conductor..
I'd hope?
@13tyates (1606)
• United States
21 Aug 12
Lol, well hello there!
Anyway, something I forgot to mention in the first part of the discussion is that there were actually a couple of what the officers on the scene said were "young ladies" up on the tracks. That just goes to show that people do not really understand how serious of a problem it can be having people walk on the tracks or really being somewhat close to the train tracks. Sometimes I wonder if that had something to do with the derailment. Somehow I think not, a couple of smaller girls, against a huge several ton train. Hmm, who knows, I guess it could have.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
21 Aug 12
I really think it could have been. The conductor's gut instinct was to do all in his power to STOP the train, and trains aren't easy to stop. that probably had something to do with the derailment.
@deazil (4728)
• United States
22 Aug 12
SomeCowgirl, passenger train service might be more prevalent in the Northeast. Penn Station in New York is pretty busy I think. Springfield and Boston, Ma. have a lot of service. You can take trains from here (N. East) to L.A., Chicago, Montreal, anywhere just about. I love traveling by train. It's a great way to see the country. I took a train to Denver from Ma. and rode in a sleeper car. And there are some fall foliage special train trips that go up to Vermont and others that go through the smaller towns in Ma.
13tyates, I haven't heard of any train accidents lately. I remember a few years back there seemed to more. And there were always videos for sale on TV of train wrecks. I have a friend that works for Amtrak. He goes from Albany to Spfld. and back. He says it's pretty safe. I think they've improved the trains and they do better maintenance on the tracks now.
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
21 Aug 12
Some railway tracks are used for transporting goods and some are used for transporting passengers. It is terrible that a train has been derailed. A car relies on the driver's skill to keep it safely on the road. I would have thought a train usually stays on the track so there would be a big problem if the track gets broken. Bad weather can make some trains derail. The other day I was waiting for a train at my local station. The train was late due to a trespasser on the track at Bridge Water. People can get a fine for standing on the track. When a train company has an excellent safety record a derail incident is likely to harm its reputation. Even more so if any people got injured or killed.
@13tyates (1606)
• United States
21 Aug 12
I would also think there would be room for much less error since the train is relying on mechanical works and not a human's mine as much like it is when you are in a car. Those tracks must be kept up to standards though, which I hope they are. It seems people feel more and more comfortable being around tracks and that is very unfortunate as that leads to more deaths related to people being on railroad tracks. Their reputation is definitely harmed, but I believe they have always had a fairly god record before now, which should count for something.
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
21 Aug 12
Don't know, but if our highway infrastructure needs repair work, stands to reason that the railway system does too.
Hi. (Dawn waves at Yates)....
