Commuter Concern: How Worried Should You Be About Monday's Metro-North Derailment?
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Scarsdale is a big commuter town. If you take the train into Grand Central each day, most likely your biggest concern is getting a seat on the 8:02 express or getting service on your blackberry or laptop on your way to or from the office. The train’s safety is probably not something you worry too much about.
A train derailment on Metro North’s Hudson line right in the middle of the Monday evening rush hour may give you pause: the 6pm train headed for Croton-Harmon derailed about 5 minutes after departing Grand Central. According to the MTA, the train was only going about 10 miles an hour and no one was hurt. However, the train was stuck in the tunnel for an hour and while the lights stayed on, the air conditioning was cut. If you recall, it was over 90 degrees outside on Monday. The passengers were evacuated near an emergency exit around 59th Street (we’ve all seen that sign) and boarded another train home. A fire department spokesperson said four pregnant women on board were taken to local hospitals to be checked out.
While this all sounds fairly miserable, it's not tragic. We’ve all seen news of train derailments that caused massive injuries and fatalities. Metro-North says it works very hard to keep the rails safe.
"Derailments are very rare and in Monday's case it happened at less than 10 mph. We maintain our tracks and will continue to do so. Safety is priority number one and we won't jeopardize the safety of our passengers or our employees," explains Marjorie Anders, an MTA spokesperson, when we spoke this week in light of the Croton-Harmon derailment.
William Henderson, Executive Director of the MTA's Citizen Advisory Committee, says that while he does not know the specifics of this case, weather frequently is a factor when it comes to derailments; in this case, it may have been the heat.
Henderson echos Anders when he says the derailment was quite rare for Metro-North. He adds that in those types of emergencies, though it may sound a bit 'goody-goody' it is really important to follow the crew's instructions. There are procedures in place to keep passengers safe. Yes, it is frustrating when you can see the platform from your window and think you could walk out and not be stuck on the train, but keeping you on the train could be for your own safety.
But could more derailments be ahead for riders?
Henderson says that going forward money is the biggest worry for the MTA and Metro-North. With budgetary cuts, maintenance cycles will likely get stretched. In large part that should be fine, but he doesn't want those cycles stretched beyond what is prudent.
Also in 2012, capital funding runs out and while Metro-North is in good shape, long term that could hurt the trains and the rails.
Something comforting is that the MTA has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to employees using electronic devices while the train is moving so no engineer or conductor can be texting or on the phone while the train is in motion. .
The MTA also points out that Metro-North logged 81.1 million trips last year and had a 97.7% on time record for 2010.
So, even if everything is safe and sound on the rails now, you may want to pack a bottle of water and a pair of comfortable shoes as you head into town.
Jen Geller is a freelance journalist who has covered the economy and markets for over a decade at a major financial news outlet. She lives in Scarsdale with her husband and 2 children. Jen has yet to bake a successful batch of cookies.
Thanks to Village Volunteers
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Those who served on Scarsdale Boards, Councils and Committees this past year, were honored at an event at the Scarsdale Golf Club on Thursday, June 23, 2011. The evening is a toast to these important volunteers who are so important in making the Village government successful.
Take a look at who served below, and if you see them around town, thank them for their service to Scarsdale.
Parents Resolved to Continue to Search for Lauren
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Four weeks after their daughter’s disappearance, Robert and Charlene Spierer are determined to continue the search in Bloomington, Indiana. At a press conference at Bloomington Police headquarters on July 1st, he called the event “our worst nightmare, one that we don’t want anyone to ever have to go through.” In an update on the investigation, he said that police are now conducting specific investigative searches rather than sending out the general search parties that have been at work over the past four weeks. Spierer thanked the thousands of volunteers, some who have travelled four to six hours to participate, taking leave from their jobs to assist. He expressed their gratitude to the people and merchants of Bloomington, law enforcement, the police and the national organizations who sent in teams to help.
Speaking on the eve of the holiday weekend, Spierer urged the parents of Lauren’s friends to cooperative with the investigation. He said, “July 4th is a time for family and friends to get together. We are appealing to the parents of the children who may have first or secondhand knowledge of what happened to Lauren. Please take time to sit down with the children and find out if they know anything. Help your children find the courage to come forward…. help them find their moral compass. They need your guidance and your strength to do the right thing.”
Choking back tears, Charlene Spierer came to the mike and assured listeners of their resolve to find their daughter. Sending a message to those who know where Lauren is, she said, “To the person who has knowledge of Laurent’s whereabouts, if you think our determination is any less, it's not. If you think that our hope and our belief that we are going to find Lauren has changed, it has not. We are just as determined now as we were from day one.” She ended by speaking directly to her daughter, saying, “We love you… we’re here for you.”
See the entire press conference here: http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/pages/video
Decomposed Body Found in Indianapolis is Not Spierer
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According to USA Today a decomposed body found on Sunday July 3rd in Indianapolis is not Laurent Spierer. A forensic examination found that the victim was African American and taller than Spierer.
According to WXIN television , a woman's body was pulled from Fall Creek on the northeast side of Indianapolis on Sunday evening. Witnesses called 911 at 6:50 pm on July 3rd to report that they saw a body floating in the creek, lodged between some debris. Paramedics pronounced the woman dead at the scene in the 6500 block of Fall Creek Parkway. Indianapolis Metro Police Officers say the body was badly decomposed. The news fueled speculation that the body could be Lauren Spierer who has been missing since June 3rd. However, the autopsy ruled out a connection to the case and Spierer is still missing.
Update on the Search for Lauren Spierer
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The Bloomington Police announced a change in strategy in the search for Lauren Spierer, missing since June 3rd at Indiana University. Rather then send out general search parties, the investigators will base their activities on leads and direct efforts towards specific information.
On Saturday June 25, 615 people participated in a wide scale search on “Find Lauren Day.” Police report that 99 missions were completed on Saturday; on Sunday 107 searchers completed 22 missions.
In a press release dated June 28th, they say, “To date, volunteers that have included citizens, law enforcement, and professional search and rescue groups have conducted more generalized searches. These searches have covered the vast majority of Monroe County and even some areas in surrounding counties. National search experts who were in Bloomington recommended that a five mile radius from Lauren’s last known location be covered extensively and that effort was completed last week. Coordinators for the search effort indicate that much of the area within a ten mile radius has also been covered. Searches have included those conducted on foot, by boat, the use of canines, on horseback, ATV’s and helicopter.”
“We cannot say enough about our appreciation for all of those who volunteered to assist in this effort and for the various agencies that provided resources to our Department. A great deal of credit also goes to Lauren’s parents for the thousands of people who have turned out for the searches simply because they wanted to help,” said Chief Michael Diekhoff. He added, “This transition will allow us to focus and rely more on the investigative aspect of this case and conduct searches based on the information we get as the investigation proceeds.”
Robert and Charlene Spierer will hold a press conference on Friday July 1 at 11:00 am at the Bloomington Police Department. They plan to make a statement regarding the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of their daughter.
