AURORA, Colo. — The Regional Transportation District has begun repairs at the intersection where a light rail train derailed in September, leading to an ongoing interruption of service on its R Line, the Denver Post reports.
A train derailed at a 90-degree turn through the intersection of South Sable Boulevard and East Exposition Drive on Sept. 21, the second accident at that location [see “Three injured in Denver-area light-rail derailment,” Trains News Wire, Sept. 22, 2022.] Since then, light rail service has not operated on a 4-mile section of the R Line in Aurora, and the RTD ended a bus bridge around that portion of the route on Oct. 30, severing through service between southern and eastern Denver communities [see “Denver-area light rail line remains shut down …,” News Wire, Oct. 31, 2022].
The repair work began Monday after the RTD filed a confidential report on the derailment with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. The transit agency declined to discuss possible changes at the intersection, saying details are contained in the report. The RTD says it plans to restore full R Line service sometime in December.
How about a speed measuring device on the approach that will illuminate a bright double yellow signal aimed at the driver if the speed is too fast. Placed so he/she has time and space to slow to the allowed speed for that curve. Easy and cheap?
What kind of signal system do they have?
Paralysis by analysis, again?
Went back and watched the film in the Oct 31 article. Not sure they can do anything with the track to allow a train to turn 90º at 55 mph. The train was going to fast. Better training, better supervision or computer system that controls speed at such locations.