European Railroad Discussion > Experts Ponder Human Error in Italian High-Speed Train Crash

Experts Ponder Human Error in Italian High-Speed Train CrashBy The Associated Press
Feb. 6, 2020

 OSPEDALETTO LODIGIANO, Italy — A high-speed passenger train derailed in northern Italy before dawn Thursday, killing two railway workers and injuring 28 other people as its engine broke off and careened into a work vehicle on a adjacent track. Authorities are looking into human error linked to track maintenance work as a possible cause.

The state-railway Freccia Rossa train went off the rails on the heavily used Milan-Bologna line while traveling at nearly 300 kph (180 mph), Civil Protection chief Angelo Borrelli told state radio.Maintenance work had been carried out on a nearby track switching area less than two hours before the derailment, Prosecutor Domenico Chiaro told reporters at a news conference

The train that derailed was the first train to pass through the area after the work was done and “the switch was placed in a position it shouldn't have been,” he said.“We're looking into the hypothesis of human error that could be linked to the maintenance work,” as a possible cause for the accident, Chiaro said, stressing that no conclusions had been reached yet.

Sabotage or a terror attack have been ruled out, the prosecutor said and investigators have recovered the train's black box recording.

https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/02/06/world/europe/ap-eu-italy-train-derails.html

The lead power car became separated and looks like it look quite a wild ride. The rest of the consist appears to have come to rest in line with the track, with the lead carriage coming to rest on its side.

https://www.milanotoday.it/cronaca/frecciarossa-deragliato.html

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/20 11:25 by Dcmcrider.

The standards and practices for safety need to rise to a new level in railroading not seen before in most places.
As high and higher speed rail comes to the USA, the old ways just won't do.
The Japanese seem to have an excellent model in their Shinkansen operations as they have a stellar safety record.

RRTom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The standards and practices for safety need to
> rise to a new level in railroading not seen before
> in most places.
> As high and higher speed rail comes to the USA,
> the old ways just won't do.
> The Japanese seem to have an excellent model in
> their Shinkansen operations as they have a stellar
> safety record.

Do the Japanese have hedge fund managers demanding higher and higher profits every three months?????

 

Will MacKenzie
Dundas, ON

thehighwayman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> RRTom Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The standards and practices for safety need to
> > rise to a new level in railroading not seen
> before
> > in most places.
> > As high and higher speed rail comes to the USA,
> > the old ways just won't do.
> > The Japanese seem to have an excellent model in
> > their Shinkansen operations as they have a
> stellar
> > safety record.
>
> Do the Japanese have hedge fund managers demanding
> higher and higher profits every three months?????
>
>  

No.  But the railroads do have a low interest credit line to maintain infrastructure, and the government closely monitors on time performance. 

$5 per gallon gasoline helps, too

And bodies per square foot.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> thehighwayman Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > RRTom Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > The standards and practices for safety need
> to
> > > rise to a new level in railroading not seen
> > before
> > > in most places.
> > > As high and higher speed rail comes to the
> USA,
> > > the old ways just won't do.
> > > The Japanese seem to have an excellent model
> in
> > > their Shinkansen operations as they have a
> > stellar
> > > safety record.
> >
> > Do the Japanese have hedge fund managers
> demanding
> > higher and higher profits every three
> months?????
> >
> >  
>
> No.  But the railroads do have a low interest
> credit line to maintain infrastructure, and the
> government closely monitors on time
> performance. 
>
> $5 per gallon gasoline helps, too

thehighwayman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> Do the Japanese have hedge fund managers demanding
> higher and higher profits every three months?????
>
>  

Does the state-run Italian railway?

Nomad Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Does the state-run Italian railway?

It is a typical European open access arrangement. The government owns the infrastructure company. It owns some of the train operaotrs. Other train operators are private companies.

TAW

Dcmcrider Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The lead power car became separated and looks like
> it look quite a wild ride. The rest of the consist
> appears to have come to rest in line with the
> track, with the lead carriage coming to rest on
> its side.

It looks like the train is upright between tracks.

TAW

https://www.railwaygazette.com/55737.article?utm_source=RGInewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Story%203&utm_campaign=RGInewsletter20200214

TAW

Executive class on the Red Arrow is something everyone needs to do if you ride trains in Italy.