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Yesterday, a commuter train in western Japan derailed and crashed into an apartment building, injuring 340 and killing 73. Investigators suspect that the train's speed was a cause, because the conductor was trying to make up for a delay, since the train was running 90 seconds late. The 23 year old conductor had missed an earlier stop, had to go back, and then proceed again; the driver has not been found yet. West Japan Railway sources say that its president will resign over the accident.
Many of news outlets have noted that Japan has a "one of the world's largest, busiest and most sophisticated train networks, yet derailments and serious accidents are rare." Unlike the trains we're used to, like the NJ Transit, LIRR, or Metro North, Japan's commuter trains go into densely populated areas (more development occurs near train stations), which is why Gothamist was stunned and saddened by the visuals of the train actually wedged against the building.
There was a terrible train derailment in the L.A. area earlier this year.
Photograph from Agence France Press
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Um, you might want to change the post title. The accident happened about 300 miles outside of Tokyo.
Anyway, that's about 30 minutes from where my parents live. Just horrible, and to think 70 people are dead because the driver tried to make up for a 90 second delay.
and what does this have to do with new york?
Pretty sad. Those drivers must have their backs against the wall when it comes to keeping on their schedule. Whats the max speed limit on those trains anyway? I've been on the train going between Kyoto and Osaka and it does seem like they drive like mad men sometimes, especially on the express trains.
Imagine if this happened on the Shinkansen knowing how fast those trains go...
Who cares if it’s outside NY? It’s nice to break from the format and talk about something more important then little spoiled brats getting their ipod's stolen.
It also shows that even the most efficient and safe of transit systems has its problems as well. I'm amazed this doesn’t happen more often on the LIRR.
I believe that train can go 75 mph safely but the lilmit was 44 mph at that section of the line. It's reported that the driver was going twice that, so he was going too fast even for a straightaway.
I don't see this happening on the bullet trains though. The curves aren't as sharp and there's less pressure to make up time quickly since the distance between stops is longer.
This exact scenario would not play out in NY b/c the train driver would never have been concerned about being late...he knows the union would protect him.
Let's face it...if the union can insulate a guy who is clearly sleeping on the job from termination, it can certainly protect a driver who is off schedule.
Does the Amtrak Acela run that fast thru NY?
The train accidents happen more in the US, like LIRR or Amtrak and the beloved NYC subway. This accident was a pretty big one ever happened since 1971 over there.
I agree with Pancho because we don't even have a timetable for the subway. We don't know when it comes or what happens when it doesn't come for 30 minutes. The trains and other transportations in Japan are always on time.
Umm... you mean we don't have these schedules?
http://www.mta.info/nyct/service/schemain.htm
aron, those schedules are a complete joke. the MTA does not even come CLOSE to operating on any kind of schedule.
i'd also like to point out that the majority of fast bullet trains (shinkansen) in japan are above the ground like the J/M/Z in brooklyn so there's less chance of them hitting obstacles to derail them. this train that derailed in japan (close to osaka NOT tokyo) was a regular commuter train not a bullet train.
Saying this crash happened in Tokyo is like saying a train crash in New Jersey happened in New York. Osaka is not Tokyo.
At least New Jersey is next to New York. It's more like saying an accident in NYC happened in Boston.
Yes, this story is relevant to put on Gothamist because most people HERE are talking about it, have talked about it, etc.