Maintaining rail and engines critical to safety
THE train flew off the tracks as it tore around a bend in northwestern Spain. At least 78 passengers were killed and more than 140 injured.
This was Spain’s deadliest rail disaster ( pic) since 1944. ( The Star, 26 July).
Eight carriages were derailed when the train sped across a bend at 190kph although the speed limit was 80kph.
This accident was the third rail disaster this month.
Earlier on July 12, a train derailment near Paris, France killed six passengers.
Yet, another oil train derailment and explosion in Canada on July 6 took 47 lives.
On July 20, two trains collided head-on in Granegspres-Marand, Switzerland killing one of the two drivers and injuring 35 passengers.
Railway transportation is always considered the safest, at least in everybody’s mind. Statistics might show otherwise!
A high speed train, also called a bullet train, runs at about 300kph or 185mph. Speed always runs higher risk of accidents.
A train with many coaches has a very high passenger capacity.
When an accident occurs, it usually ends with serious injuries including deaths.
Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are embarking on a high speed rail connecting the two cities.
After reading about the above accidents at Europe’s safest and most popular rail networks, my initial thrill about the KL-Singapore connection is now turning into some safety concerns.
Is there anything we can learn from these accidents in order to design better safety features?
Are there any speed delimiters to cap the train at a maximum speed?
Are there any safety “catches” that will prevent coaches being derailed?
Are there any fool-proof features to avoid sabotage to the railway tracks?
Are there bends and slopes on the rail beyond safety limits?
Having done all these, maintenance of the rail and engines is a critical part of the system.
As a passenger, I can only hope that all these questions have been considered.
Let’s not wait for a disaster and start pointing fingers!
Let’s live up to the Malaysia Boleh spirit and be proud of our first ,but not the last, high speed rail. KW MOON Penang