Dispatcher Focus of MBTA Probe
Posted January 13th, 2007 in Commuter Rail
WOBURN, Mass. — Federal investigators looking into a fatal wreck on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority are focusing their atention on a train dispatcher, according to The Associated Press.
Two workers were killed Tuesday when an MBTA commuter train struck a piece of track equipment.
As part of their investigation, agents are looking at conversations the dispatcher had with the workers, according to The Associated Press.
The train was traveling 60 mph and was heading from Lowell to Boston when it struck a “speed swing” near the commuter rail station in Woburn killing the workers. A dozen other people, including 10 passengers, were treated for injuries.
The incident remains under investigation, officials said.
A “speed swing” is used to lift railroad ties.
The two workers were employed by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Co.
Does M/W equipement like the one struck by the train shunt the track electrictally to indicate the track is occupied by something? If not, why not?
If it was another train and not M/W that occupied the track, wouldn’t there have been a light telling the dispatcher, “track is occupied”?