Readers letters
More than ten years ago, following some fatal rail crashes in the UK, I published on the Web - for unrestricted use - the outline of a rail safety system, based on a combination of "off-the-shelf", tested and proven (but non-rail) technologies, which could provide equivalent safety to that touted for ERTMS but at an estimated one percent of the cost for implementing that as yet untested system in the UK.
Railtrack expressed strong interest; but unfortunately was in demise when I arrived in UK to discuss it. At that time I was informed that in any case it could not be implemented, because through the EU the UK was politically committed to implement ERTMS.
Fast forward to a few months ago and Mr. Steve Yianni of Network Rail also expressed strong interest - but again nothing further has developed, presumably for the same political reason.
Fast forward again to today and we have a rail crash of a high speed train in Spain, involving at the latest count 89 fatalities.
The system I outlined more than 10 years ago could - I am sure would - have prevented those fatalities by accurately tracking the train's speed and position and automatically ensuring that the speed was appropriate before entry to the curve in question. A GPS-based system that was already in use on a private rail line in Canada at the same time was also capable of doing the job.
My point is this: if Spain, a member of the EU, was under the same obligation as the UK in respect of ERTMS, it should by this time have been implemented and, if so, is evidently not up to the task it was designed for; otherwise, if it was not implemented, the question should be "Why not?" Or is this just one more example of what is continually complained about in this country: that even if we grumble we rigorously implement EU rules; while most other countries seem to get away with saying "Yes" then doing their own thing anyway?
To save further fatalities, isn't it about time that some politician had the courage to say "Up yours!" to ERTMS and go ahead with a system - ANY system - that can provide the same safety at a price that even impecunious countries like Spain and Greece can afford?
Tony Marshallsay Next letter: Dearman restrictions