Veolia CEO issues statement on Metrolink crash

This is the first public statement from Veolia Transportation CEO Mark Joseph on the Sept. 12 Metrolink crash. Veolia is the contractor that runs Metrolink trains and their engineer Robert Sanchez was killed in the crash. Veolia gave the statement to The Times on Sunday evening:

The Veolia Transportation family continues to grieve deeply for the victims and their families the September 12th tragedy in Los Angeles. Words cannot express how saddened we are over the loss of life and injuries suffered in this terrible accident. Our hearts are broken and our entire company is stricken with grief.

Some information and speculation already have been reported on the possible cause or causes of this accident. However, no conclusions have been reached, and we continue to work closely with California authorities and the National Transportation Safety Board, which has directed us not to discuss the accident.

But the time will come for discussion and debate about what can and must be done to prevent such accidents in the future.

Our company has been in the transportation business for over 100 years. Safety has been, is and will continue to be our highest corporate value.

Veolia Transportation will commit the necessary resources to discover the facts, partner on solutions for enhancing safety on U.S. rail systems, and press hard for a commitment from all levels of government to implement these solutions.

We are prepared to bring the global expertise of Veolia Transport together with the many private and public agencies and operators – as well as our labor partners – in a coalition committed to finding and promoting ways to make the nation’s passenger rail transportation system safer.

Whether the result of human error, system failure, or other causes, we will share in the broad responsibility of finding solutions to lessen the risks inherent in passenger rail service. Public transportation is an essential service of everyday life in this country, and this tragedy underscores more than ever before the need for improving our public transportation systems.

When we entered the North American market five years ago, we brought our expertise and experience from Europe, where we have operated safe, successful rail services for more than a century. Our company operates some of the most sophisticated rail networks in the world. We hoped that our presence would bring competition to the U.S. rail industry and be a catalyst for both system improvements and investment by authorities. So far, change has been slow.

It appears now that Congress has acted upon a reform of rules intended to improve the safety of rail systems in the U.S. We welcome the action taken. However, in addition to rules changes, significant investment is needed by government—and laws that would promote private investment opportunities as well—to implement the systems and technology that are now available and being developed to make rail transportation as safe as possible. We think great promise [sic] ahead for rail service in this country but it can be realized only if there is a genuine commitment, not just to rules but to infrastructure investment. Without such investment, the future we hoped for in the passenger rail industry in the U.S. will not be realized.

Whatever is done for the future of rail will not lessen in any way the tragedy of September 12 or give solace to the families and communities devastated by it. But we can draw strength and resolve from tragedy to do all that is possible to make sure it never happens again and to give assurances to those who continue to rely upon public transportation that it will be a safe, affordable and positive force in their daily lives.

Comments

[Kymberleigh Richards]

At last, someone in authority who says "stop speculating and let the NTSB do its job".

Mr. Joseph obviously understands the responsibility of being at the top of a management chain and has the wisdom to not speak without careful consideration of what to say.