Metrolink - Again!

Summary

On Friday, 12 September 2008, Metrolink became the media focus yet again. In Chatsworth, CA, in single track terriroty, in broad daylight with no weather conditions to cause inteferrance, the commuter rail service found itself heading for a Union Pacific (UP) freight train, headon.

Day / Time

This happened on a Friday afternoon with commuters heading home for the weekeend. It was about 4:15pm Pacific time when Metrolink #111 left the Chatsworth station.

Metrolink Train

Metrolink #111 originated from Los Angeles Union Station headed for Moorepark in the far west end of the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles to the north. The train was in double track territory heading railroad west with a switch ahead to take the train into single track territory, through very long tunnels to get to its' destination. Accounts have the passenger load at about 225. The consist was one engine and three passenger cars. The train had one engineer in the engine which was pulling the consist, and there was one Conductor in the cars.

Union Pacific Train

This was a 'local' with an unknown number of cars in the consist. It had two UP engines at the head and a crew of 3. The UP Local freight known as the "Leesdale Turn", (Leesdale is a short siding just east of Oxnard, it originates at the "Gemco" Yard in Van Nuys, CA.) luckily was using SD-70 EMD model locomotives that day, just by chance. Usually, that train is ran with whatever power is at the Gemco Yard, generally SD-40's or smaller switch engines. The well built "Comfort Cab" model protected the UP crew, >and possibly is what saved their lives. From a reliable source, the Engineer is said to have a broken ankle and will have to undergo some type of back surgery. The Brakeman has a knee injury, the Conductor has a broken arm. Of course, they are all banged up with cuts >and bruises.

The Terriroty

The terrority approaching the switch is north-south and the territory the UP was coming from is pretty much east-west. The point of contact for the accident is on the curve of these two directinos coming together. The surrounding area is pretty much desert type with high rocks and brush. Visibility is not good on the curve.

The Metrolink Engineer

This engineer began working for Metrolink in 1996. He was 46 years old. He had been working for 11 1/2hours from his start time and had a break in service mid-day time off period including a 2 hour nap.


What Happened

Basically, the UP train was just traveling along it's way in single track territory heading for a meet with the Metrolink train. They had already been through the tunnels and were within 30 seconds of making the meet at the switch. This train was traveling about 30mph.

The Metrolink left the last station, Chatsworth, and had gained speed to about 55 mph before dropping to about 42mph (heading uphill) at the time of the crash. The train passed two lights without engineer-conductor communications being recorded on the train or dispatchers recordings. The commuter train went through the switch which was set for the main to siding, which the UP train was approaching, to take the siding.

The NTSB has determined that the engineer of the Metrolink train was texting with a teenage railfan just proor to the crash. It has been reported that the teenager has a text message timestamped at 4:22pm, one minute prior to the crash.

In this specific area, visability of oncoming rail traffic from either direction is hindered by the terain, a curve in a cut in the hill.. According to the NTSB report, the Metrolink engineer never put the train in Emergency or had any kind of reaction to any oncoming traffic. The UP train, according to the NTSB, had a 4-5 second time period to react after finally making visual contact with the Metrolink, at which time the train was put into Emergency.

The leading UP engine, the Metrolink engine and the first passenger car behind the engine all ended up on their sides to the outside of the curve of the tracks. There was a fire or two hhat broke out and were quickly extinguished by the fire department upon arrival.

Behind the UP engine, the second engine was upright but not on the tracks. Behind this engine were about 6 or 7 cars accordianed into the second engine. Thr rest of the consist appeared to be upright and on the tracks.

The Metrolink engine bounced back into the first passenger car and those both ended up on their side with very littel visual sighting of the engine from the reporting helicopters views. The remaining two passenger cars were upright and on the tracks about 75 feet behind the first passenger car.

The Metrolink spokesperson came out Saturday, less than 24 hours after the accident, and stated that it was the Metrolink's engineer fault. Monday morning she had resigned her position. Later, David Solo (title unsure, something like Exec. Director) expressed surprise the spokesperson resigned because she did not say anything he did not authourize. The Board Of Directors had said the spokesperson had made a premature statement.

Other Observations

The number of deaths in this crash has been said to be 25, with one news agency saying it is 26. This number includes the engineer of the Metrolink train. It is being reported this number could increase as a result of any of the injured sucomming to their injuries.

Local politicians are now on a rant to make cellphone operations of any kind illegal while operating a train.

One local news agency is now touting the dangers of single track territory being shared by both passenger and freight traffic in the name of 'Did you know what danger exists?'

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This incident is still unfolding. This blog will be updated as new information is learned. The latest information posted here is as of: 17 Sept 08 1830 Pacific time.

EngineerRichard