Breaking: Trains Collide In Switzerland, At Least 30 Injured

[MerryBlooms]

Two passengers trains collided head on in Switzerland today, injuring at least 30 people, the Tribune de Geneve reports. It's unclear if anyone was killed.

The accident happened near the exit of the train station in Granges-Marnand, in western Switzerland. One train was leaving and the other arriving, one passenger said.

Another witness told 24 Heures, "there are injuries, maybe even deaths given the violence of the collision.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/trains-collide-in-switzerland-2013-7#ixzz2aSZDptxd

[octoberlib]

1. What is with all the train wrecks?

Spain, Italy , now Switzerland.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. Bus wreck in Italy

Not train - or was there also a train wreck there?!?

[octoberlib]

6. Oops. You're right. I have trains on the brain. nt

[JustAnotherGen]

9. No problem

Panickec for a second. Except for my husband's younger brother and a few cousins - his family is all in Italy.

[MerryBlooms]

4. It seems every few days lately- planes and trains both. Awful. n/t

[Pretzel_Warrior]

2. WTF is going on with all the train crashes? Train travel is exceedingly safe, and I'm annoyed

that this could be drummed into stupid shit talking points against adding more public transit in the U.S. which is WOEFULLY behind the curve in this regard.

[OneGrassRoot]

5. I was wondering the same thing. :( n/t

[haele]

7. Would be interesting to find out if there are transportation cutbacks from Austerity policies.

Anything from reduced maintenance on tracks, sensors, and vehicles, or added stress distracting the operators and support staff due of benefits or pay cuts.

Driving a train is high stress - you really need to concentrate and all your equipment, the tracks, and all the signaling/sensor devices need to be in top operating condition, because while an 18-wheeler truck or large bus crashing on the highway can cause equally horrific damage and death, it doesn't impact the overall infrastructure of that particular transportation system the way a train crash impacts on the rail system. The reason why there have been few horrific train crashes/derailments over the past 70 years or so is that rail operations have been so heavily regulated and overseen until very recently.

Haele

[MerryBlooms]

8. You bring up excellent points.

Neglected infrastructure, staff cutbacks, aging machines, high stress, etc... yes, I would think it all factors in.
Very good points, Haele.