Merf

[shep_shepherd]

Looking at the photos of the aftermath of the train derailment in Cumbria last night, I'm surprised that only one person died. I fancy that the toll would have been higher had the train being going faster or had more passengers, though

Comments

[giro_batol]

It is interesting that its one of virgins new high speed trains, and that Virgin have no plans to ground the rest of the fleet!

of hours. I think that the railway network is currently the safest it has been for many years...

Not much comfort, it is now slightly less crap than it was! I mean 110V is safer than 240V but it still Kills!

[giro_batol]

BTW if you are going to the Meet, Could you pay aggy my Minibus money? And I will Paypal it to you. I tried to email him, but his livejournal email bounces, and i don't have his mobile number. I'm not sure if he has paypal!

[shep_shepherd]

Tell you what, I'll etail you his mobile number, and you can go from there :)

[giro_batol]

Cool, Tell him that you have given it to me. I've been very busy, and didn't want him to fill up the minibus with me :)

[shep_shepherd]

Will do. I'm sure he will be fine about it :)

[klepsydra]

Someone on uk.railway has pointed out, pithily, that it's not "a miracle" that only one person died, but rather a tribute to excellence in train design and safety planning.

I quite agree that railways are safer than they've ever been (even if commuting on the damn things is frustrating and sometimes delayed -- trains may break down with depressing regularity but they very rarely crash or otherwise endanger passengers' well-being.)

[tungro]

I don't know, the one death there was was a very elderly person. I fully agree that it's a testament that the railways are very much safer than they have been. I always complained the Pendolinos were claustrophobic and cramped, but that was because of the body shell. I think now I feel a lot better about travelling in them because I know if there IS a crash, I'm much more likely to survive!

Like Klepsie said, it's a tribute to excellence in train design and safety planning!

If anything, this will make me even MORE inclined to travel on the railways.

[shep_shepherd]

Sir Richard Branson was on the news earlier saying how strong and safe that the modern rolling stock is. I agree, as accidents involving the older stock (such as the one at Clapham Junction in 1988) would normally lead to multiple fatalities and very serious injuries.