Speculation and suggestions of changing policy are premature at this point. There has been no official root cause analysis.
I work in the power industry and like the railroad there are regulated and internally drafted policies used for safety and abnormal conditions. There are processes and forms of maintenance that need to happen while things remain in service. When an automated control is defeated it needs to be documented and any job specific safety considerations noted. Maybe a flag person needs to be posted, or the trains might need to come to a complete halt before proceeding through the crossing. There have been numerous safety issues on the Fitchburg line recently, and one tragic death in Wilmington due to issues with crossing gate activation after work had just been performed. ( https://www.wcvb.com/article/wilmington-massachusetts-railroad-crossing-safety-gates-fail/39139822 ) Keolis seems to be having a difficult time with safety. Still, it is easy to place blame without all of the facts. - Chris On Thu, Apr 21, 2022, 11:27 Sara Mattes <samat...@gmail.com> wrote: > Many years ago, the Town was struggling with the amount of noise created > by the warning “whistles”…they were really very loud blasts. > We looked at the number of household who felt the impact, given the > frequency and how the sound traveled. > The number of households and the impact were significant. > Hence, the alternative approach, which worked pretty well…until it didn’t. > > Do we let Keolis off the hook and just let them blast away? > It certainly would be cheaper for them. > Or, do we find a way to insist the system be properly maintained? > > Finally, we should know that the blast is, in fact, as or more effective > than the gates. > Certainly there must be data on the number accidents that have occurred > with the whistle system in place, versus the gates. > > > Sara > > > > > ------ > Sara Mattes > > > > > On Apr 21, 2022, at 10:50 AM, Joanna Owen Schmergel via Lincoln < > lincoln@lincolntalk.org> wrote: > > Well the 15 second warning whistle is certainly cheaper and more effective > than signs. > > I imagine the warning whistle would create quite a regular noise nuisance. > > As the grade crossing system has recently failed in the “up” or “unsafe” > position within the last 2 weeks, causing a train-hits-car near miss, then > I am not certain what the alternative solution is until root cause > corrective action has been successfully completed. > > > > > Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone > <https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/?.src=iOS> > > On Thursday, April 21, 2022, 10:43 AM, John F. Carr < > voxsciuro...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Lincoln is a "quiet zone" where trains do not normally blow horns. > That is a privilege granted when railroad crossings have been upgraded > above minimum safety standards. The South Great Road crossing was > upgraded to four quadrant gates and a median curb around 2010. > > If the grade crossing is not working well, whether that is the > railroad's fault or drivers' fault, the quiet zone should be revoked. > Drivers will hear a loud whistle giving 15 seconds warning. > > More information on quiet zones: > > https://railroads.dot.gov/highway-rail-crossing-and-trespasser-programs/train-horn-rulequiet-zones/train-horn-rule-and-quiet > > Text of grade crossing safety regulations: > https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-II/part-234 > > While I have not read the FRA regulations or industry standards, my > understanding is gates are far more likely to fail safe, i.e. to go > down when there is no train. Railroads are required to report each > failure to warn to federal authorities within 15 days. You could > probably FOIA these. > > On 4/20/22, Joanna Owen Schmergel via Lincoln <lincoln@lincolntalk.org> > wrote: > > Another thought, I think we need to immediately put double sided signs > up at > > all four railroad crossings in Lincoln that say something like: > > “Barriers can malfunction. Slow down and crack windows before crossing > train > > tracks” > > My family and kids drive across those tracks umpteenth times a day…. > > > > > > Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone > > > > > > On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, 7:42 AM, Joanna Owen Schmergel via Lincoln > > <lincoln@lincolntalk.org> wrote: > > > > Hi Folks, > > Like my beloved late father used to say, “If it can get stuck in the > “down” > > position, it can also get stuck in the “up” position. When approaching > train > > tracks, always slow down and crack your windows!” > > > > > > Train almost hits car crossing the tracks on Route 117 - Alice Waugh > > > > https://www.printfriendly.com/p/g/MaAa4F > > > > > > Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone > > -- > > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > > To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. > > Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. > > Browse the archives at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. > > Change your subscription settings at > > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. > Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > > > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. > Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > >
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