Support for Transit After Train Crash

Re “Chain-Reaction Crash Kills 11,” Jan. 27: Now, after the horrible train wreck in Glendale, reporters keep asking how something like this could be prevented. Two things are apparent: One, we cannot stop people from being stupid, and two, there is no crumple zone on a push engine’s front car. We can double up on crossing gates at grade crossings and design them better, but that would still leave the front car of a push engine vulnerable. Perhaps some brilliant engineer can figure out a way to modernize the old reliable cow-catcher that used to prevent locomotives from being damaged by track-straddling large animals.

Los Angeles desperately needs a workable, reliable mass transit system, and Metrolink is the only choice for many riders. Please make it a safe alternative.

Glenda Tamblyn

Northridge

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Commuters should not allow Wednesday’s Metrolink train crash, allegedly caused by a suicidal man, to affect their willingness to ride the 12-year-old system. I have taken a Ventura County line train from Northridge to and from Los Angeles Union Station for nearly four years. I would not work downtown without the train. It is on time, clean and efficient and a better commute that any freeway could offer.

During that same four years, there have been countless accidents and deaths on the freeways I would have to travel were I to drive. In addition, I would add considerable stress to my already stress-filled life, mileage to my car and pollution to our air. I will be back on the train as soon as it starts running again.

Don’t let the actions of sick people frighten us back into our cars.

Bruce E. Whidden

Reseda

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It always happens, as it did this week in the immediate aftermath the tragic train wreck. The pontificating photo-op politicians have to make sure their faces and solemn pronouncements get before the TV camera. To hear them almost immediately after this horror condemn the alleged culprit as a murderer before investigation or analysis as to why he left his vehicle on the railroad tracks disgusted me. It doesn’t take a $250-an-hour psychiatrist to recognize this man as mentally deranged, which time and the judicial system will likely verify. In the meantime, the real culprit responsible for this preventable disaster is the federal government. Long before now funds for the construction of grade crossing overpasses should have been provided at dangerous crossings so no vehicles could deliberately or accidentally get stuck on the tracks.

S. Dell Scott

Encino