Push-Pull Commuter Trains OK'd For Now

Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer (D-Glendale) introduced a bill to prevent reccurrences of the tragic January 2005 crash of a Metrolink commuter train in Glendale, Los Angeles County, that resulted in 15 deaths. The train was operated in "push mode", where the locomotive supplying the power is in the rear of the train, "pushing it", while the engineer is in the front, or "cab car", operating the train.

"Frommer noted that since 1992, Metrolink has had four major crashes involving push operations, resulting in 15 deaths and more than 300 injuries. In contrast, the line has had two major crashes of trains pulled by locomotives; 25 people were hurt and no one was killed."

The provision would have affected California's four commuter rail systems: Metrolink and the Coaster in southern California, and Caltrain and Altamont Commute Express in northern California.

The excessive costs the ban would have imposed caused an outcry by the rail operators and their advocates. The bill was amended to a "study bill" that will be undertaken by the Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley, next year if the bill becomes law.

Thanks to Alan C. Miller