RAIL PASSENGER ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
1017 L Street PMB 217, Sacramento, CA 95814
www.railpac.org

17th September 2008

STATEMENT REGARDING METROLINK/UNION PACIFIC TRAIN COLLISION AT CHATSWORTH, CALIFORNIA FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2008

The Rail Passenger Association of California is greatly dismayed by the loss of life and injuries resulting from the collision between a Metrolink passenger train and a Union Pacific freight train last Friday. Our sincere condolences, together with those of all passenger rail advocacy groups, go out to all who have suffered in any way from these tragic events.

While the investigation continues, we will not make any statement attempting to apportion blame or anticipate the NTSB findings. We will say however that the passenger rail corridor between San Diego and San Luis Obispo via Los Angeles, known as the LOSSAN corridor, is the second busiest passenger route in the country. Yet there are still long sections of line that are single track, including the busy line between Van Nuys and Moorpark. It is embarrassing for the State of California and the nation that a major route within the second largest city in the country is still partly single track. We applaud Supervisor Antonovich and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors for their resolution calling for improvements in infrastructure, safety and signaling systems. Let’s use the reaction to this unfortunate tragedy to jump start a program of improvements that will give us a safer, more frequent and more reliable passenger rail system for the region.

RailPAC is a non-profit railroad passenger advocacy group run entirely by volunteers.

Paul Dyson
President
[email protected]