This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/20/us/california-today-a-rail-evangelist-defends-the-safety-of-trains.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
California Today: A Rail Evangelist Defends the Safety of Trains California Today: A Rail Evangelist Defends the Safety of Trains
(about 11 hours later)
Good morning.Good morning.
(Want to get California Today by email? Here’s the sign-up.)(Want to get California Today by email? Here’s the sign-up.)
The Amtrak crash near Tacoma, Wash., that killed three people this week was another reminder of the vulnerabilities of our railway systems. What are the risks in California? We called Rod Diridon, who currently chairs the advisory board of the United States High Speed Rail Association and whose life has been so immersed in trains and public transport in California that they named the San Jose train station after him. (Our chat has been edited and condensed below.)The Amtrak crash near Tacoma, Wash., that killed three people this week was another reminder of the vulnerabilities of our railway systems. What are the risks in California? We called Rod Diridon, who currently chairs the advisory board of the United States High Speed Rail Association and whose life has been so immersed in trains and public transport in California that they named the San Jose train station after him. (Our chat has been edited and condensed below.)
Q. Could a similar accident happen in California?Q. Could a similar accident happen in California?
A. In Washington they were upgrading their Amtrak system to a higher-speed system. Our system down here, the old traditional Amtrak rail system, can go 79 miles an hour over some of the track but most of it is slower. It’s using the old freight railroad tracks.A. In Washington they were upgrading their Amtrak system to a higher-speed system. Our system down here, the old traditional Amtrak rail system, can go 79 miles an hour over some of the track but most of it is slower. It’s using the old freight railroad tracks.
Q. You are saying the California system is too ancient to be dangerous?Q. You are saying the California system is too ancient to be dangerous?
A. We’ve been running the Amtrak train up and down the coast and from Bakersfield to Sacramento every day since the 1880s and there have been very few accidents, and none recently.A. We’ve been running the Amtrak train up and down the coast and from Bakersfield to Sacramento every day since the 1880s and there have been very few accidents, and none recently.
Q. What is positive train control? And does California have it?Q. What is positive train control? And does California have it?
A. The way it works is that there are sensors all up and down the track. If you are going too fast the computer system will take control of the train and will either stop it or slow it down. You don’t have it on the freight rail tracks — every diesel locomotive on the huge Union Pacific system would have to be retrofitted. It’s a huge multibillion price tag and something that the freight railroads have not wanted to do.A. The way it works is that there are sensors all up and down the track. If you are going too fast the computer system will take control of the train and will either stop it or slow it down. You don’t have it on the freight rail tracks — every diesel locomotive on the huge Union Pacific system would have to be retrofitted. It’s a huge multibillion price tag and something that the freight railroads have not wanted to do.
[Union Pacific, the freight railway company, is in the process of rolling out the system and as of last month used it on around 80 percent of its trains in California, according to the company. The system is not yet being used on passenger or freight trains from other companies that use Union Pacific’s tracks.]
Q. You have made the point that traveling by rail is much safer than by car.Q. You have made the point that traveling by rail is much safer than by car.
A. That tragedy in Washington was avoidable, and it should have been avoided. Three people died. Do you know how many people were killed on roads last year in America? More than 30,000.A. That tragedy in Washington was avoidable, and it should have been avoided. Three people died. Do you know how many people were killed on roads last year in America? More than 30,000.
Q. You’ve been a big promoter of high-speed rail. Where does that fit in?Q. You’ve been a big promoter of high-speed rail. Where does that fit in?
A. The high-speed rail system, like the one we are building in California, is modeled after the systems that operate in Japan or China, or France or Germany or Italy. It includes all of the safety and operational safeguards that have been learned about in earlier systems. It’s safer than walking on the sidewalk.A. The high-speed rail system, like the one we are building in California, is modeled after the systems that operate in Japan or China, or France or Germany or Italy. It includes all of the safety and operational safeguards that have been learned about in earlier systems. It’s safer than walking on the sidewalk.
(Please note: We regularly highlight articles on news sites that have limited access for nonsubscribers.)(Please note: We regularly highlight articles on news sites that have limited access for nonsubscribers.)
• Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, on the tax plan that passed the Senate and House on Tuesday: “Simply theft — monumental, brazen theft from the American middle class and from every person who aspires to reach it.” [The New York Times]• Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, on the tax plan that passed the Senate and House on Tuesday: “Simply theft — monumental, brazen theft from the American middle class and from every person who aspires to reach it.” [The New York Times]
• Twelve of California’s 14 Republican members of the House of Representatives voted for the tax bill. The two who voted against it — Darrell Issa and Dana Rohrabacher — said residents in their wealthy districts would be hurt by the plan. [Los Angeles Times]• Twelve of California’s 14 Republican members of the House of Representatives voted for the tax bill. The two who voted against it — Darrell Issa and Dana Rohrabacher — said residents in their wealthy districts would be hurt by the plan. [Los Angeles Times]
• As firefighters brace for the return of stronger winds, the Thomas fire officially became the second largest fire in modern California history, displacing the 2012 Rush fire, which previously held the No. 2 spot. (The statistic comes with an asterisk; Cal Fire is not counting the 44,000 acres that burned on the Nevada side of the border during the Rush fire.) [Los Angeles Times]• As firefighters brace for the return of stronger winds, the Thomas fire officially became the second largest fire in modern California history, displacing the 2012 Rush fire, which previously held the No. 2 spot. (The statistic comes with an asterisk; Cal Fire is not counting the 44,000 acres that burned on the Nevada side of the border during the Rush fire.) [Los Angeles Times]
• Yes, something can be done about wildfires: Deschutes County, Ore., has become a national leader in promoting public education, community outreach, landscape restoration and robust emergency response. [The New York Times]• Yes, something can be done about wildfires: Deschutes County, Ore., has become a national leader in promoting public education, community outreach, landscape restoration and robust emergency response. [The New York Times]
• More than five years into San Francisco’s tech boom the number of companies looking to gobble up real estate is growing, and the cost of San Francisco’s Class A office space — already the most expensive in the country — is ready to spike again. [San Francisco Chronicle]• More than five years into San Francisco’s tech boom the number of companies looking to gobble up real estate is growing, and the cost of San Francisco’s Class A office space — already the most expensive in the country — is ready to spike again. [San Francisco Chronicle]
• Uber flipped a building in downtown Oakland it bought two years ago. It sold it for $180 million to Los Angeles-based CIM Group. In 2015 Uber bought the building, a former Sears store, for $123.5 million. It was a fixer upper. [San Francisco Business Times]• Uber flipped a building in downtown Oakland it bought two years ago. It sold it for $180 million to Los Angeles-based CIM Group. In 2015 Uber bought the building, a former Sears store, for $123.5 million. It was a fixer upper. [San Francisco Business Times]
• A sexual harassment prevention class for lawmakers in Sacramento: “Some people do take it seriously — and some people are on their phones, some people are cracking jokes. I would say the large majority of people are not as attentive.” [Associated Press via Sacramento Bee]• A sexual harassment prevention class for lawmakers in Sacramento: “Some people do take it seriously — and some people are on their phones, some people are cracking jokes. I would say the large majority of people are not as attentive.” [Associated Press via Sacramento Bee]
• An Orange County family kept their Christmas tree alive for 34 years running. In environmental terms, it’s the equivalent of not burning 1,200 pounds of coal. Or driving 2,668 fewer miles in your car. [Orange County Register]• An Orange County family kept their Christmas tree alive for 34 years running. In environmental terms, it’s the equivalent of not burning 1,200 pounds of coal. Or driving 2,668 fewer miles in your car. [Orange County Register]
• U.C. Berkeley has settled a sex harassment claim against Nezar AlSayyad, a tenured architecture professor, for $80,000. [San Francisco Chronicle]• U.C. Berkeley has settled a sex harassment claim against Nezar AlSayyad, a tenured architecture professor, for $80,000. [San Francisco Chronicle]
• San Luis Obispo has a reputation for being a sleepy town in central California known for its laid-back charm. The number of tech workers in San Luis Obispo County has increased by 20 percent, to 7,800, over the past five years. [The New York Times]• San Luis Obispo has a reputation for being a sleepy town in central California known for its laid-back charm. The number of tech workers in San Luis Obispo County has increased by 20 percent, to 7,800, over the past five years. [The New York Times]
• A goose with an arrow stuck in its body has been splashing around a park in San Dimas for at least three weeks. Park rangers can’t catch up with it to render aid. [Daily Bulletin]• A goose with an arrow stuck in its body has been splashing around a park in San Dimas for at least three weeks. Park rangers can’t catch up with it to render aid. [Daily Bulletin]
The end of 2017 in California means farewell to the incandescent light bulb. On Jan. 1, California will be the first state to effectively ban the sale of the bulbs, which were first patented by Thomas Edison in 1879. Out with the incandescents, in with the LEDs, which use 80 percent less energy.The end of 2017 in California means farewell to the incandescent light bulb. On Jan. 1, California will be the first state to effectively ban the sale of the bulbs, which were first patented by Thomas Edison in 1879. Out with the incandescents, in with the LEDs, which use 80 percent less energy.
Under a deal reached in Congress during the administration of George W. Bush, California agreed to adopt more stringent standards for light bulbs two years ahead of the rest of the nation.Under a deal reached in Congress during the administration of George W. Bush, California agreed to adopt more stringent standards for light bulbs two years ahead of the rest of the nation.
There are still an estimated 250 million incandescent bulbs in use in California and replacing them will save $1 billion in electricity costs annually, according to estimates published by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the environmental advocacy group.There are still an estimated 250 million incandescent bulbs in use in California and replacing them will save $1 billion in electricity costs annually, according to estimates published by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the environmental advocacy group.
“There’s been an LED revolution — your computer, the headlight in your car, your flashlight, you name it,” said Noah Horowitz, a senior scientist at the council. “It’s just a superior technology.”“There’s been an LED revolution — your computer, the headlight in your car, your flashlight, you name it,” said Noah Horowitz, a senior scientist at the council. “It’s just a superior technology.”
There are a few exceptions to the ban. Incandescent bulbs will still be allowed to illuminate the inside of ovens and clothes dryers. Edison’s bulb was inefficient, producing more heat than light, but it stands up much better than LEDs to high temperatures.There are a few exceptions to the ban. Incandescent bulbs will still be allowed to illuminate the inside of ovens and clothes dryers. Edison’s bulb was inefficient, producing more heat than light, but it stands up much better than LEDs to high temperatures.
California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.