Crash Probe Eyes Conductor's Cell Phone

Calif. Train Collision Killed 25, Injured 138; Was Engineer Distracted By Phone?

(CBS/AP)  Amid a federal investigation into whether a commuter train engineer was texting before a deadly collision with another train, the state's top rail safety regulator is seeking an emergency order banning train operators from using cell phones.

"Some railroad operators may have policies prohibiting the personal use of such devices, but they're widely ignored," Michael Peevey, president of the California Public Utilities Commission, said Monday. "Our order would make it the law and we'll go after violators. We owe it to the public."

The commission has scheduled a vote on the order Thursday.

The collision between the Metrolink train and a Union Pacific freight train killed 25 people and injured 138 people - the deadliest rail disaster in the U.S. in 15 years.

Metrolink has blamed its engineer for not heeding a red light signal designed to prevent such wrecks, and the National Transportation Safety Board is reviewing whether the engineer was text messaging.

Investigators did not find a cell phone belonging to Robert Sanchez in the wreckage, but two teenage train buffs who befriended him told KCBS-TV that they received a text message from him a minute before the crash.

CBS Station KCAL correspondent Kristine Lazar first reported that one minute before the crash, a teenager received a text message on his cell phone from the engineer.

Kitty Higgins, an NTSB board member, said her agency issued a subpoena Monday to get the engineer's cell phone records. She said Verizon Wireless has five days to respond to the subpoena request.

Higgins also said tests at the crash site showed the signals are working properly and there were no obstructions that may have prevented the engineer from seeing the red light.

"The question is, did he see it as red?" Higgins said. "Did he see it as something else? Did he see it at all?"

NTSB experts prepared to conduct a simulated crash test on Tuesday.

On Monday some commuters - many wary and emotional - returned to the rail line on the first day of service since the accident. Regular commuters said the train load was much lighter than usual.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa tried to reassure them the trains are safe.

"I want to dispel any fears about taking the train," he said. "Safety has to be our No. 1 concern, and while accidents can and do happen, taking the train is still one of the safest and fastest options for commuters."

The NTSB said the commuter train, which carried 220 people, rolled past stop signals at 42 mph and forced its way onto a track where a Union Pacific freight was barreling toward it.

The collision occurred at a curve in the track just short of where a 500-foot-long tunnel separates the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Chatsworth from Simi Valley in Ventura County.

About a dozen bouquets were strung the length of the loading platform at the Simi Valley station as passengers Monday boarded buses and were shuttled to the Chatsworth station, bypassing the tracks still being cleared of wreckage.

Commuters will use the buses again Tuesday morning.

Jerry Romero, who normally takes a Metrolink train home but skipped it Friday to pick up a bicycle, said he was disturbed by reports that the engineer may have been texting.

"That would be pretty disturbing in respect to what we're going through as a society, this fascination we have with gizmos," he said.

In 2003, the NTSB recommended that the Federal Railroad Administration regulate the use of cell phones by railroad employees on duty after finding that a coal train engineer's phone use contributed to a May 2002 accident in which two freight trains collided head-on near Clarendon, Texas. The coal train engineer was killed and the conductor and engineer of the other train were critically injured.

Metrolink prohibits rail workers from using cell phones on the job, but there is no existing federal regulation regarding the use of cell phones by railroad employees on the job, FRA spokesman Steven Kulm said.

Audio recordings of contact between Sanchez and the conductor on the Metrolink show they were regularly communicating verbal safety checks about signals along the track until a period of radio silence as the train passed the final two signals before the wreck. The tapes captured Sanchez confirming a flashing yellow light before pulling out of the Chatsworth station.

The train may have entered a dead zone where the recording was interrupted. Investigators tried to interview the conductor about the lapse Monday, but he declined because a company representative was not able to be present, Higgins said. He is still hospitalized with serious injuries.

A computer indicated the last signal before the collision displayed a red light, and experts tested the signals Monday and determined they were working properly.

On Tuesday they planned to take actual Metrolink and Union Pacific trains to recreate the events leading up to the accident and to test the signals further.

[downsteamjim]

Nancy Pelosi had all the red lights removed because they symbolized Bush.

[ralan40]

If the train passed thru a ''dead zone'' where communication was blocked then how would a text message get thru?
The time a text message is received does not always match the time that it is sent. Anyone who texts or leaves a voicemail would tell you that.

ElToroDog , you also raise a very interesting point regarding the switches.

[eltorodog]

As travers1948 puts it. Also, I have never heard of "A train rolling past stop signals at 42 mph and forced its way onto a (Main)track"

I have never heard of a train "forcing" it way on to a MAIN line from a siding.

Remind everyone that when a switch is "blocked" to traffic. Meaning the switch is set the wrong way for side (siding)traffic to enter the MAIN line. That a train car cannot not go thru that switch and if it tries to then the train car will derail.

I have seen this a countless number of time where train car will derail at a "blocked" switch.

I have never seen one train make it thru a "blocked" switch.

Of course, I could be wrong and this could be the one time in the eons of time that this has happened. Making it thru a "blocked" switch tht is.

However, with 40 years of experience I do not think so.

I thing the lights were not working properly and the siding switch was set to give the Metrolink the priority to go on to the Main line. The is base on the comments in the article.

Now the train officials are trying to blame the engineer to cover their on BUTTS.

I have seen train officials blame the operating crews all the time for the officials and companies own dereliction.

[travers1948]

There was a time that a ''fireman'' would ride on the left side of the locomotive cab even though he no longer shoveled coal. He would check the engine and had other duties while the engineer would pilot the train. Had there been a fireman onboard, he would most likely could see the danger and alert the engineer of impending doom. So action could be taken
in time.

Airliners still have two men in the cockpit. Why was
the fireman''s job eliminated? Money!

[squeakof2006]

There comes a point when you have to wonder if we really are better off with all of out technological toys!

[johnstossel]

Of course I can talk: I''m only driving!!!

[barbaram99]

It is great we have the tools we do but and I say but they aew abused..Just as things were and are. Yep. We can''t totally blame the phone.computer,etc. They are things. Sure it is fast paced today. Persons needs to use their haeds,eyes,ears,hands, Ye are carrying people and they need to be safely transported. Hand the cell up, close the lid of the laptop. Persons needs to stop trying to beat the trains. They have pulled this for years. Was that message so inportant that others died..I think not. I have used a cell. I have told the caller I have to hang up as my safety comes first as do others. Sure we have always multi tasked only today it seens more so.

[ibzjem]

Just think,
for every one train engineer using a cell phone "behind the wheel" there are ten of thousands of motorists on the phone while driving down residential streets and highways.

[thevicar1]

There is simply no excuse for an engineer missing a properly functioning traffic signal --------------------------------------------------- Posted by omded



Unless, of course, that engineer happens to be a HUMAN, which comes with a built-in feature making him/her quite capable of erring.
Which is also why another undocumented feature of HUMANS is understanding, and forgiveness.

[omded]

ChicagoRail4,
Two operators sounds like a good idea, but, banning cell phone use sounds good too. When we design redundancy into any system, we still intend the system to be operated as if the redundancy did not exist. In other words, if there are two operators driving a train, then both should be acting like they''re the only operator and giving his/her full attention to the job at hand. If you have family you need to keep in touch with, and they just can''t wait, then you need to get a different job. As a rail operator, you have a responsibility for the safety of your passengers. That''s part of the job. If you can''t give your full attention to your job, then you need to look for another line of work.

There is simply no excuse for an engineer missing a properly functioning traffic signal. From the looks of your post (including your obvious potty mouth), I doubt you possess the maturity or commitment to safely operate a train. I sure don''t want you operating a train that I''m riding on.

[sassalin]

ChicagoRail4,

GROW UP. The world does not revolve around you. I have a job where cell phones are banned and I seem to keep in touch just fine. Quit being a crybaby.

[sassalin]

IrishWench,

You would be the first demanding information when none was released saying it''s your right to know. The company and media would be horrible because they refuse to release info or cover it.

[legacyabq]

Good point cam9457..
Should be two people up there.. Hell, jets have like what.. 5? (yeah, I know, they''re more complex)

If the texting thing turns out to be true.. Well, like I always say,
I freakin'' HATE stupid cell phones, and texting is even worse.. Everyday some idiot bumps into me cuz they''re staring like a zombie into their stupid, stupid, stupid cell phone. As if we weren''t distracted enough!!

[cam9457]

I work for a class 1 freight railroad as a train and engine crew member and I don''t understand why "people puller" trains don''t have to have a two man crew up front like freight trains do? Two sets of eyes seeing every signal. There is also a technology called PTC that railroads have been fighting because of cost, but it could have saved 25+ lives in this disaster. Here is a link to an article about it
http://www.utu.org/worksite/detail_news.cfm?ArticleID=43730