That train was going much faster than most at that crossing. If it had to stop, it would not have been able to do so before impact. This isn't Amtrak. There should be a speed limit in place at an area like this that will be heavily travelled by pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.
That train was doing about 40. Looks faster because of the size. Drive next to one on Route 441 between Columbia and Washington Boro and you will see. Trains can't stop on a dime, simple as that. Even at 15 MPH it is not going to be able to stop and avoid impact if someone pulled in front of it at the crossing.
What needs to be fixed is the horrible traffic light plan at the intersection. As I see it, there are two traffic signal heads facing traffic coming out of the park. One 3 signal head (red, yellow, and green) before the tracks and another five signal head, (red, yellow, yellow left turn, green, and green left turn.)on the other side of the tracks It should be set up that when the first signal coming out of the park starts to turn red, the second signal should go to green with green left turn (all other lights red) to allow traffic to clear the tracks. I have never seen it do this. Also, why must all traffic stop when a train is traveling past the crossing. Would seem to me that traffic on Route 441, traveling through, could keep moving. Similar intersection in Leola at Horseshoe Road and Newport Road. Traffic on Horseshoe Road, which runs parallel to the tracks, gets a green signal but they also have signs which are illuminated when a train is passing preventing a left or right turn toward the tracks, depending on your direction of travel, to keep people from sitting on Horseshoe Road waiting until the train has passed.
Someone needs look at the signal and get it right.
There are speed limits on the tracks. And yes, they are vigorously enforced. Trains do not typically operate strictly by line-of-sight. They run on signal indication/dispatcher authority. Otherwise it would take a VERY long time to deliver those 18,000 tons of coal. It is a business, after all.
So unless you KNOW the speed limits on a section of track, it is very ignorant to claim a train is speeding in the legal sense. And if you think that Walnut St. is heavily traveled by people, you need to travel outside of the borough more often.
You have proof of this? Didn't think so. You do realize trains are monitored through satellites/GPS and excessive speed would be caught immediately? Didn't think so.
As far as being unsafe: says who? Are you an FRA inspector? Do you have the timetables for that line? (PS there are line segments around here where 50 and 60 are allowed). Are you familiar with train operations to determine what is safe or not? Didn't think so.
A train could take about a mile to stop. Maybe some people should check out the links that the police department provided. From some of the comments it is apparent that they did not and do not know much about being safe around the railroad tracks.
It says "will" be travelled. Now that the trail and River Park building are open, just add warm weather and the people will be flooding the area. I believe that the borough has underestimated how many people will be coming here. With pedestrians, cyclists, boats, kayaks, and vehicles...it WILL be busy. An accident waiting to happen.
11 comments:
isn't there a speed limit for the trains too? and can't that b e enforced?
Wow, that train must be doing 40 MPH. Take Acela Express on the northeast corridor and you will understand what a fast train is!
That train was going much faster than most at that crossing. If it had to stop, it would not have been able to do so before impact. This isn't Amtrak.
There should be a speed limit in place at an area like this that will be heavily travelled by pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.
That train was doing about 40. Looks faster because of the size. Drive next to one on Route 441 between Columbia and Washington Boro and you will see. Trains can't stop on a dime, simple as that. Even at 15 MPH it is not going to be able to stop and avoid impact if someone pulled in front of it at the crossing.
What needs to be fixed is the horrible traffic light plan at the intersection. As I see it, there are two traffic signal heads facing traffic coming out of the park. One 3 signal head (red, yellow, and green) before the tracks and another five signal head, (red, yellow, yellow left turn, green, and green left turn.)on the other side of the tracks It should be set up that when the first signal coming out of the park starts to turn red, the second signal should go to green with green left turn (all other lights red) to allow traffic to clear the tracks. I have never seen it do this. Also, why must all traffic stop when a train is traveling past the crossing. Would seem to me that traffic on Route 441, traveling through, could keep moving. Similar intersection in Leola at Horseshoe Road and Newport Road. Traffic on Horseshoe Road, which runs parallel to the tracks, gets a green signal but they also have signs which are illuminated when a train is passing preventing a left or right turn toward the tracks, depending on your direction of travel, to keep people from sitting on Horseshoe Road waiting until the train has passed.
Someone needs look at the signal and get it right.
i believe there is a speed limit, which they don't obey
these trains at times travel at 50 to 60 mph. very unsafe.
There are speed limits on the tracks. And yes, they are vigorously enforced. Trains do not typically operate strictly by line-of-sight. They run on signal indication/dispatcher authority. Otherwise it would take a VERY long time to deliver those 18,000 tons of coal. It is a business, after all.
So unless you KNOW the speed limits on a section of track, it is very ignorant to claim a train is speeding in the legal sense. And if you think that Walnut St. is heavily traveled by people, you need to travel outside of the borough more often.
It's not the trains,,,,,
OMG It's the poor planning of signs and signals.
You have proof of this? Didn't think so. You do realize trains are monitored through satellites/GPS and excessive speed would be caught immediately? Didn't think so.
As far as being unsafe: says who? Are you an FRA inspector? Do you have the timetables for that line? (PS there are line segments around here where 50 and 60 are allowed). Are you familiar with train operations to determine what is safe or not? Didn't think so.
Don't make accusations that are blatantly false.
A train could take about a mile to stop. Maybe some people should check out the links that the police department provided. From some of the comments it is apparent that they did not and do not know much about being safe around the railroad tracks.
I agree the traffic signal could be better.
It says "will" be travelled. Now that the trail and River Park building are open, just add warm weather and the people will be flooding the area. I believe that the borough has underestimated how many people will be coming here. With pedestrians, cyclists, boats, kayaks, and vehicles...it WILL be busy. An accident waiting to happen.
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