An eastbound BNSF Railway train failed to slow at a yellow warning signal on June 28 and then continued past a red stop signal before striking an oncoming BNSF train, inspectors for the National Transportation Safety Board said in the report.
The eastbound train, bound for Chicago, was supposed to stop and allow the Los Angeles-bound train to pass. It was traveling just over 60 mph when it passed the yellow signal, though trains are not supposed to travel any faster than 40 mph at a yellow signal so that they can stop in time at a red signal. The train was traveling about 65 mph when it passed the stop signal.
Human error in the form of a crew asleep. Not uncommon sadly. It's not even their fault. The railroad system of calling crews to work and lack of rest is medieval.
ReplyDeleteBoth crew members are supposed to call the signals to each other, so both of them missed the approach(yellow)light...
ReplyDeleteThat also explains why the westbound was moving at approach speed - it was getting ready to cross over.
ReplyDeleteThe eastbound must have sprung the switch? It sure was going fast enough.
as always in human error of that magnitude.....just too sad for words....
ReplyDeletevaquero viejo