Curt Fischer wrote:
> Al wrote:
> > Michael Cash <mikecash@buggerallspammers.com> wrote:
> >
> >>Here's food for thought:
> >>
> >>Imagine if the vehicle in question had been an automobile instead
of a
> >>train.
> >>
> >>At 11 months total driving experience, the driver would still be
over
> >>two years away from even being eligible to upgrade to a license to
> >>drive a bus.
> >>
> >>So in the case of automotive licensing, the system would consider
him
> >>far short of being capable of hauling 30 or 40 people around. Yet
in
> >>the case of choo-choo licensing they give him a limited express
with
> >>580 people onboard.
> >
> >
> > Hi Mike,
> >
> > i don't think we can meaningfully compare the two systems: train
drivers
> > receive rigourous training and supervision, and they operate under
much
> > more restrictive conditions (the most important one the fact that
they
> > don't actually steer the train) and follow a very tight script of
> > actions during their trip. They are being supported by a generally
> > well-thought out and well-developed safety system (from dead-man
> > switches to signal blocks with automatic overrun braking, etc.),
and all
> > this means that they don't often face situations where they would
have
> > to make too many decisions at once or simply lose control of the
train
> > due to environmenmtal conditions - this is what usually kills
> > inexperienced car drivers: misassessment of the interaction between
car
> > and environment.
> >
> > In this case it is very likely that the accident was caused by an
> > unfortunate combination of one of the oldest safety systems in the
> > railway network plus a speeding driver (Ken can explain in detail
why
> > drivers "have to speed" at times).
> >
> > And i think that both contributing factors have to be considered
> > carefully in view of the privatization issue - show me any country
in
> > the world where train safety has improved as the consequenece of
> > privatization...
>
> I've had a passing acquaintance with Japan for four years now, and
the
> only train accidents and near accidents I remember hearing about have

> involved JR.
>
> Except wait, what line was that train that hit a truck at a crossing
the
> other day?
>
> I'm only familiar with the Tokyo train system, but I think
privatization
> has worked very well.  How long have the commuter lines been private?

> Since they have existed, right?  The key is that all Tokyo suburbs
are
> basically the same.  So the development companies such as Seibu,
Toubu,
> Toukyuu, Odakyuu, etc., can only get people to move to their
communities
> by building better communities or by having better trains.  The lines
do
> actually compete with each other, on very long time scales.
>
>
Actually JR West is private; aren't all JR's privately managed now?

John W.