One of the earliest types of transportation in our society is traveling by train. Most people view trains as heavy machineries, which main purpose are to carry cargo and transport passengers from one point to another.
The trains' primary distinction as compared to other mode of transportation is the fact that they actually traverse a particular path, known as the railroads and transport numerous numbers of people and cargo in a one way/segment travel. Because of this controlled system of operations, trains are not exposed to the rigors of our roads and streets where other modes of transportation are concentrated. This element makes transportation through trains a supposedly safe mode of public travel. In addition, the fact that the control on such type of transportation is dependent on a recorded, predetermined period makes it even safer as opposed to any other form of transportation. Yet, despite the safety features that are prevalent in travel by means of train, the fact that accidents happen in this mode of transportation is not an entirely new concept.
Since it traverses a particular railroad path, the element of human negligence in cases of accidents occurring is entirely different from other vehicle accident cases.
Historical accounts and current accident records/statistics are actual evidences bringing to light the fact that accidents during train travels are more drastic or catastrophic compared to other vehicular accidents. The severity of train accidents is probably due to certain elements like the number of passengers and the amount of cargo being transported in the trains or the fact that since a machine controls its operation, it would have no other remedial acts, as compared to humans, when faced with system malfunctions.
One of the most common train accidents is derailment. Derailment has become a common picture in vehicle accident stories everywhere. It maybe due to the fact that railroads have existed for so long and the outside elements and wear and tear has already caught up with it, causing it to naturally decay, or it maybe the result of a system failure causing a speeding train to lose its track.
When railroad problems and derailment occur, accidents of tragic proportions are sure to become unavoidable consequences. Unlike in cases of other vehicles wherein stepping on the brakes or the pulling of the hand brakes may be done to avoid an accident from happening, in train accident cases, no brakes can be capable to stop all of the locomotive cars. If there were any, then the train's speed and the volume of passengers and cargo would be an added element in causing a catastrophe rather than mitigating it.
http://www.articlebliss.com/Article/Traveling-by-Trains/126929
