03-18-2016, 10:48 AM
BNSF operates their trains at high speed through the flatland's in the Midwest. The tracks on the BNSF are designed to be safe to operate at speeds of 100 mph except in mountain passes where they are forced by the topography to put in curves that slow the trains down. Checking track twice a week should insure that the track is good. I'm sure that they also check track anytime that there is a flood or other disaster that would cause damage to the right of way. If a truck drags something over the track that damages the track, the trucking company is liable for the damage. There is no way to watch all of the track on the BNSF mainline constantly. Amtrak owns track in the Northeast corridor that they got only because of the Penn-Central bankruptcy. Some other tracks used extensively by AmTrak and/or commuter railroads is owned by either AmTrac or a public agency like Caltrains here in California.
This was an accident that could have been avoided if the truck driver who caused the damage had reported the problem.
This was an accident that could have been avoided if the truck driver who caused the damage had reported the problem.