[UPDATE 2] Tragic Train Blogging: Santiago train derailment | 50 comments (50 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Why the driver was distracted (none / 1)

El País: El maquinista hablaba por teléfono con Renfe cuando el tren descarriló (30 Jul 2013)

Del audio almacenado en las cajas negras, y cuya información fue volcada esta mañana en presencia de la policía científica y del juez titular del número 3 de instrucción, Luis Aláez, se ha podido saber también que el maquinista estaba hablando por teléfono con personal de Renfe, que parece ser un controlador, en el momento del siniestro. Minutos antes de la salida de vía recibió una llamada en su teléfono profesional para indicarle el camino que tenía que seguir al llegar a Ferrol. Del contenido de la conversación y por el ruido de fondo parece que el maquinista consulta un plano o algún documento similar en papel.

El Pais: The driver was talking on the phone with Renfe when the train derailed (30 July 2013)

From the audio recorded by the black boxes, and whose information was extracted this morning in the presence of forensic police and the investigtive judge of the 3rd court Luis Aláez, it has been known that the driver was speaking on the phone with Renfe personnel, apparently a controlles, at the time of the accident. Minutes before the derailment he received a phone call on his professional phone to indicate to him the route he must follow on arriving to Ferrol. From the content of the conversation and the background noise it appears that the driver was consulting a map or a similar document in hardcopy.

Finance is the brain [tumour] of the economy

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Jul 30th, 2013 at 04:30:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Some newspapers are shameless (4.00 / 3)

Initially, ABC tweeted that the driver "was on the phone" without saying with whom. Now, they have the following headline: Renfe recommends to their drivers to suppress conversations at "critical points". So now the narrative is going to be that the driver violated the driver's handbook by answering a call from the control room.

Finance is the brain [tumour] of the economy

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Jul 30th, 2013 at 04:34:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why the driver was distracted (none / 1)

On the day of the crash, Renfe had leaked to the press that the driver "had called control" before the crash and had said "I'm going 190, I'm going to derail". Then later thee CEO of Renfe said in an interview that the conversation had taken place after the crash.

I distribute. You re-distribute. He gives your hard-earned money to lazy scroungers. -- JakeS

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Jul 30th, 2013 at 04:36:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why the driver was distracted (none / 0)

Yikes.
Talk about multiple failure modes.

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Wed Jul 31st, 2013 at 07:02:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why the driver was distracted (none / 1)

Now it appears that the driver was answering a call from the controller on board the same train...

Finance is the brain [tumour] of the economy

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Jul 31st, 2013 at 12:19:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

[UPDATE 2] Tragic Train Blogging: Santiago train derailment | 50 comments (50 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)