I just saw this on the BBC news. It appears that a bus went clean through the barriers and rammed a passing train in Ottawa today.
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Wow , thats horiable .. prayers for all involved
That's terrible, but it's pretty hard to blame the train for this one!
This was not a "train accident."
This was the result of an inattentive (or sleeping) bus driver who drove his bus into the path of an oncoming train. No fault lies with the railroad here, but people will sue them anyway. 
Terrible accident, although it could have been much, much worse, as the train only caught the very front of the bus. Be interesting to see the accident report as to what contributed to the driver's inattention. The continued need for the Operation Lifesaver makes itself apparent.
Seems somewhat surprising that the engine derailed here.
Wow, your a lot safer in a train!
What is interesting is that the bus pushed the train far off the tracks. The bus must have a lot of mass or speed to push the train that far.
What is interesting is that the bus pushed the train far off the tracks. The bus must have a lot of mass or speed to push the train that far.
It depends more on the angle of impact.
Rusty
This was not a "train accident."
This was the result of an inattentive (or sleeping) bus driver who drove his bus into the path of an oncoming train. No fault lies with the railroad here, but people will sue them anyway.
I agree.
It was a very cool night here and bright sunny morning. I wonder if the sun could have been a factor. That is one of the more unusual crossing angles that I have encountered.
I don't know about Transport Canada rules. But in the US, that bus would have been required to come to a full stop behind the stop bar before the crossing. Also, more than likely, there were rXR or TC's like passive signage 1/4 miles/about 500m before the crossing.
I think stupidity played a prominent role here.
The front of the bus is gone!
My prayers are out to the passengers of that bus as well as the train.
I don't know about Transport Canada rules. But in the US, that bus would have been required to come to a full stop behind the stop bar before the crossing. Also, more than likely, there were rXR or TC's like passive signage 1/4 miles/about 500m before the crossing.
And? In theory reality and theory are the same, in reality they are not. I see busses going to/from casinos in California not stopping at crossings routinely. Actually, busses stopping at a crossing can cause an incident, usually when the driver behind the bus decides to go around the bus (because they always stop, even when clear) and ...
People who try and make things idiot proof have never met any idiot.
I heard the bus was on the Transitway. If that is the case normal traffic rules do not apply. In the past Ottawa-Carleton Police have investigated accidents on the Transitway and concluded the Highway Traffic Act does not apply. The Transitway is a private road and it appears only OCTranspo rules apply. An accident this serious may change this.
I heard the bus was on the Transitway. If that is the case normal traffic rules do not apply. In the past Ottawa-Carleton Police have investigated accidents on the Transitway and concluded the Highway Traffic Act does not apply. The Transitway is a private road and it appears only OCTranspo rules apply. An accident this serious may change this.
OK, I'm confused; the gates/barriers where down, the lights where flashing, and the train was right in front of the driver. If he wasn't asleep, dozing, or had a medical condition, why the devil would he RUN INTO THE DARNED TRAUN????
OK, I'm confused; the gates/barriers where down, the lights where flashing, and the train was right in front of the driver. If he wasn't asleep, dozing, or had a medical condition, why the devil would he RUN INTO THE DARNED TRAUN????
On a cell phone or an on vehicle phone?
I also feel bad for the engineer. It must be difficult knowing what your train did, regardless of who was at fault.
I'm curious to know the speed of the train at the time of the collision, not that I think the train was at fault, but because you can see the station it was stopping at in this photo, just up ahead on the left.
I'm curious to know the speed of the train at the time of the collision, not that I think the train was at fault, but because you can see the station it was stopping at in this photo, just up ahead on the left.
There are tweets on this CBC story that indicate the train was slowing to stop at Fallowfield.
The Ottawa Sun has video of the wreck site and animated diagram showing the positions of the bus and train. This section of the Transitway is new since I last took the train to Ottawa.
http://www.intelligencer.ca/20...-via-train-in-ottawa
If he wasn't asleep, dozing, or had a medical condition, why the devil would he RUN INTO THE DARNED TRAIN????
This has happened many times in the past, of course. People just pull out in front of trains. And do all sorts of other things that make no sense. So why do people do the things they do? Answer that and you'll be famous. 
Transitway? Is this something like Houston METRO's HOV lanes, but for buses only?
I also feel bad for the engineer. It must be difficult knowing what your train did, regardless of who was at fault.
Others can address this much better than I, but I've read that this can be a real problem, and frequently it takes a good amount of counseling and therapy for crew members to cope with the mental issues that result from collisions with fatalities.
Transitway? Is this something like Houston METRO's HOV lanes, but for buses only?
The Transitway is a private road for Ottawa buses (buses only) the stretches across Ottawa. Buses move very fast and may come through stations at 50 mph or faster if not stopping. For the most part is a relatively narrow two lane road with very few access ramps. Stations are generally four lanes. Downtown, the buses move along one-way streets in the curb lane. Some stations have 300 buses an hour during the commute. It is something to see.
The location where the accident occurred is very close to one end of the Transitway.
This was not a "train accident."
This was the result of an inattentive (or sleeping) bus driver who drove his bus into the path of an oncoming train. No fault lies with the railroad here, but people will sue them anyway.
So true that you can so easily sue.
The Long Island Railroad is running ads right now showing a car going around a lowered crossing gate with flashing lights and getting hit by a train. I believe I heard that computer simulation is involved.
We have signs that say "watch for the gap" everywhere on the railroads because some people think a train car floor and a station platform are ALWAYS exactly the same height and within a millimeter of each other.
I will probably be thrown out of the brotherhood, but tort reform is essential.
No matter what you do, you will never be able to stop the idiots. But giving them money for being idiots is absurd.
Transitway? Is this something like Houston METRO's HOV lanes, but for buses only?
The Transitway is a private road for Ottawa buses (buses only) the stretches across Ottawa. Buses move very fast and may come through stations at 50 mph or faster if not stopping. For the most part is a relatively narrow two lane road with very few access ramps. Stations are generally four lanes. Downtown, the buses move along one-way streets in the curb lane. Some stations have 300 buses an hour during the commute. It is something to see.
The location where the accident occurred is very close to one end of the Transitway.
"Private Road"? Who actually "owns" the road? A "private person or company"? A government agency?
Outside of this accident, that looks like a very interesting Bus Rapid Transit operation!
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