posted
*gives Liam the traditional fox welcoming gift of a dead mouse*
As for the rail crash, this public enquiry will I fear take six months only to decide that a measly upgrade be introduced to the signal system. An upgrade that lags years behind the standards on the continent, but is all that Railtrack with it's vast profit margin can afford.
It is a scandal, and I'm warming to what some tabloids have been suggesting - that if a significant safety program is not brought in swiftly, Prescott (transport minister) should resign.
------------------ "FOOLS! Will I have to kill them ALL?!?!"
posted
Good to see all the lost posting. Next thing you know, DT will drop in. The news said there was a similar rail set up here in the USA. I think it was Chicago, but I'm not sure. Lots of problems there that will not be solved.
------------------ Outside of a dog, a book is a mans best friend. Inside of a dog, it's to dark to read. Groucho Marx
Orion Syndicate
He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!
Member # 25
posted
Nothing's ever going to be done. After the Clapham crash in 1988, an inquiry suggested an Automatic Train Protection System - nothing was done.
After the Southall rail crash in 1997, the same reccomendations were made - nothing was done.
In 1998, there was an extremely near miss on the same line as this last crash, but it wasn't even mentioned until this latest crash.
Just this August, the government said that they would install a protection system, but not the one that the inquiry recommended - it would be the next best thing and would cost less. However, now that this crash has happened, they suddenly announce that price is no object and the best system would be installed. Do you believe them? I don't!
Give it a couple of months and when all the attention has died down, the government will come back to the cost saving exercises and installing second grade technology.
You can probably tell that I'm pissed off with the government over this, and the reason is that I travel by train very regularly and have taken the Great Western Train from Swansea to London Paddington quite a few times - this service uses the same line as the one where the crash took place. It's left me wondering just how close I may have come.
BTW: No heads are going to roll, Prescott isn't going to resign and when all this dies down, this incident will quietly be swept under the carpet with the rail executives and government ministers continuing their tasks of saving money at any cost.
They're even talking of privatising Air Traffic Control (or at least part of it). This just goes to show how low priority our lives are compared to the cost saving exercises. Really, who cares if several hundred people die in a plane crash? At least the treasury saved �2-3 million....
------------------ Do business with us, or we'll ruin you.
[This message has been edited by Orion Syndicate (edited October 09, 1999).]
Saltah'na
Chinese Canadian, or 75% Commie Bastard.
Member # 33
posted
Hint: Lawsuit. That oughta teach those conservative-bastards not to skimp on something that is life or death. If you don't spend money on something that can save lives? Fine. We'll sue your f***ing-@ss off. How's that for saving money for your own pockets? Huh?
------------------ I can resist anything....... Except Temptation
posted
Take the people responsible for these decisions and move their offices into a train car that passes over that line multiple times a day. See how long it takes them to decide to put in better signals...
------------------ "It'd be a pity if every pencil on Earth suddenly collapsed in on itself and blew everything up." -Krenim, TNO chat, September 30, 1999
Orion Syndicate
He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!
Member # 25
posted
That'd be motivation enough wouldn't it? The Chinese government is doing a similar thing with regards to Y2K. What they're doing is forcing every manager and executive of the Chinese plane companies to fly in their own planes at midnight. If they don't solve the problem before then......they'll die......
------------------ Do business with us, or we'll ruin you.
posted
I would say, "Watch! Frank may eat his own words!" but I agree with him, completely.
------------------ Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")
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