Metrolink safety report released

Metrolink on Wednesday posted the final version of a safety report by a panel of experts who were asked to review the commuter railway's record. The highlights were largely covered at last month's meeting of the Metrolink board of directors. Click here to see our coverage of the meeting.

The panel is filled mostly with industry experts. Among their findings: Metrolink needs to improve its monitoring of its contractors; employees in key jobs need to be more closely observed; record-keeping to track safety issues needs a major upgrade; and board members need to be better briefed on how the rail system works.

That, of course, is an interesting recommendation as it implies that those who currently have final say over Metrolink don't know as much as they should.

The report also recommends that engineers be monitored with video equipment. That proposal has come under fire from employee groups and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who says that having a camera is no substitute for another engineer. Click here for a story that recently ran in The Times about that dispute.

In addition, the panel also said that Metrolink needs to pursue positive train control, a GPS-based computer system that is in development (and has been for years) and tracks the location of trains and prevents them from colliding. The panel took a more lukewarm response to an older, mechanical system that has been in place for decades and can trip the brakes on trains that run red lights.

The report also includes statements that praise Metrolink:

"The panel observed that there is a clear appreciation for the existing importance of safety at [Metrolink]. Employees at all staffing levels expressed interest in doing the right thing."

--Steve Hymon

Comments

[Stacy]

Just because we're Christians living out God's principles for life, does not mean we won't face difficult circumstances.

The difference being a Christian makes is how the difficulties affect us. If we are hearing and heeding God through our prayer time and reading His Word, then we will be able to stand strong in the storms of life.

Our faith will not be shaken and our identity will not be rattled.

Regardless of the tragedies we face, God's commitment remains the same--He makes good out of bad just as He has always done.