Deteriorating passenger trains

[Redpossum]

You don't have to wait for a future event: it's already happened. Does nobody remember the derailment in Palermo on the LSM this May? Many injured; thankfully nobody killed. IIRC the derailment wasn't caused by the theft of the signalling equipment but by the badly-thought-out workaround that was developed because there was no money available to fix the problem properly. Of course far more money then had to be found to deal with the consequences.

That was the collision between the passenger train and the work wagon, no?

Somebody stole the copper cables that connected some of the signals, so they were forced to use manual signaling, and the manual signaling didn't pick up on the work wagon, which was stopped on a bridge. The rail workers say that they urgently requested new cables as soon as the theft occurred, but were told "no hay plata".

These people are just trolls. I've ignored (we can't block, so they still comment on my posts and get mad when I don't engage) a number of members who simply shitpost, engage in bad faith arguments, or are poorly educated.

If people earnestly think Argentina was ever socialist, that it's a "third world country", that only NYC has psychopaths, or that only gringos complain about the state of the railway here, well, they're obviously one of the above or a combination of all three.

Yes, thank you, agreed. I may perhaps be among those you have ignored, (we have disagreed once or twice), but thank you anyhow.

 

[LuckyLuke]

Of that list, "train lines falling apart", along with the parallel problems on the Subte, presents an immediate and undeniable threat to public safety, with a very real risk of a mass casualty event right now.

How many of the others do? I don't see any others that present the same risk, with the possible and partial exception of the airline issue, but even that is reaching.

I was on the B line again today. For those not familiar with it, there are two kinds of cars, the newer ones are 1980's looking orange and white, with hard plastic seats facing fore-and-aft. You have to lift a handle to open the doors. The older ones are ancient Mitsubishi cars with plush velvet bench seats facing side-to-side. The former have all but disappeared in recent months; 4 out of 5 trains, maybe more, are the Mitsubishi museum pieces. I was on one of those both ways today, and the couplings between the cars are dangerously slack in many cases. They slam back and forth as the train accelerates away from a station. That slamming of tons of mass back and forth, again and again, means metal fatigue. Sooner or later, those couplings are going to fail.

The other alarming thing I noted is that the brakes are not working right, and that is a safety issue of the highest order.

First world or third, arrogant Yanqui or humble Argentino, these are serious issues of public safety, with a very real risk of mass casualties. These problems, if they continue to be ignored, will kill people.

I don't disagree with you on that one, however if my understanding is correct the governor of Buenos Aires - Axel Kicillof is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the trains there. To say that Milei is directly responsible for the danger of the public transportation system because the Federal government isn't subsidizing the sector seems to gloss over the entire matter of municipal and provincial governance.

 

[Quilombo]

Yes, thank you, agreed. I may perhaps be among those you have ignored, (we have disagreed once or twice), but thank you anyhow.

Oh no, you're not ignored Red, we just have different points of view sometimes, I don't believe you're motivated by malicious intent the way some people are.

 

[Terrell]

Oh no, you're not ignored Red, we just have different points of view sometimes, I don't believe you're motivated by malicious intent the way some people are

These people are just trolls. I've ignored (we can't block, so they still comment on my posts and get mad when I don't engage) a number of members who simply shitpost, engage in bad faith arguments, or are poorly educated.

If people earnestly think Argentina was ever socialist, that it's a "third world country", that only NYC has psychopaths, or that only gringos complain about the state of the railway here, well, they're obviously one f the above or a combination of all three.

These people are just trolls. I've ignored (we can't block, so they still comment on my posts and get mad when I don't engage) a number of members who simply shitpost, engage in bad faith arguments, or are poorly educated.

If people earnestly think Argentina was ever socialist, that it's a "third world country", that only NYC has psychopaths, or that only gringos complain about the state of the railway here, well, they're obviously one of the above or a combination of all three.

Argentina was never socialist? That would news to everyone who voted for Milei.

And before you cast aspersións on those who disagree with you, by calling them trolls, you might bear in mind the proverb that people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

 

[Quilombo]

Argentina was never socialist? That would news to everyone who voted for Milei.

And before you cast aspersións on those who disagree with you, by calling them trolls, you might bear in mind the proverb that people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Milei supporters are the kind of people I expect to find this news, and confirms my point that they are either trolling, believe this in bad faith, or don't know what socialism is as Argentina has never had a socialist president, and while this shouldn't be news, for those confused, we have had "progressive' presidents who subscribe to the social democracy wing of Peronism (3 specifically) Nestor Kirchner, CFK, and Alberto, but never a socialist president.

We also don't currently have any socialist Governors or any socialist Senators, but we do have 5 socialist Deputies (out of 257) who all belong to the FIT-U alliance, but I imagine some of them would prefer to be referred to as communists or maybe Trotskyites more specifically since they generally consider socialists to be liberals.

As to living in a glass house, I just noticed I have a 2:1 post-to-like ratio, so I suppose some people find what I have to say either insightful or fun if I'm guilty of engaging in trolling, but hey, everyone's a critic. Anyways, I take feedback seriously, and all calls are answered in the order in which they are received. Please remember to allow 6-8 weeks for shipping (longer for Alaska and Hawaii) and remember: don't call us, we'll call you.

 

[Redpossum]

I don't disagree with you on that one, however if my understanding is correct the governor of Buenos Aires - Axel Kicillof is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the trains there. To say that Milei is directly responsible for the danger of the public transportation system because the Federal government isn't subsidizing the sector seems to gloss over the entire matter of municipal and provincial governance.

Trenes Argentinos - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

First paragraph makes it clear they are all federal, under the Ministry of Transport.

 

[sergio]

Of that list, "train lines falling apart", along with the parallel problems on the Subte, presents an immediate and undeniable threat to public safety, with a very real risk of a mass casualty event right now.

How many of the others do? I don't see any others that present the same risk, with the possible and partial exception of the airline issue, but even that is reaching.

I was on the B line again today. For those not familiar with it, there are two kinds of cars, the newer ones are 1980's looking orange and white, with hard plastic seats facing fore-and-aft. You have to lift a handle to open the doors. The older ones are ancient Mitsubishi cars with plush velvet bench seats facing side-to-side. The former have all but disappeared in recent months; 4 out of 5 trains, maybe more, are the Mitsubishi museum pieces. I was on one of those both ways today, and the couplings between the cars are dangerously slack in many cases. They slam back and forth as the train accelerates away from a station. That slamming of tons of mass back and forth, again and again, means metal fatigue. Sooner or later, those couplings are going to fail.

The other alarming thing I noted is that the brakes are not working right, and that is a safety issue of the highest order.

First world or third, arrogant Yanqui or humble Argentino, these are serious issues of public safety, with a very real risk of mass casualties. These problems, if they continue to be ignored, will kill people.

Yes of course you are right. Speaking of the Mitsubishi cars (incidentally, I rode on them decades ago when they were operating on the Marinouchi line in Tokyo) when I recently rode them I sat down and crashed into a springless seat. It is easily 60 years or more since the seats were upgraded. Back in the Menem era I met a consultant from the Chicago Transportation Authority. He was in BA helping out with the subway. I asked him how it was. His answer back then was that it was remarkable how they kept the system running so well (remember the original coaches of the A line were still going strong) given the antiquity of the system. "They know how to put a bit of tape here and some glue there" to keep it operating, he told me. I am not sure that true now.

 

[sergio]

I don't disagree with you on that one, however if my understanding is correct the governor of Buenos Aires - Axel Kicillof is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the trains there. To say that Milei is directly responsible for the danger of the public transportation system because the Federal government isn't subsidizing the sector seems to gloss over the entire matter of municipal and provincial governance.

Doesn't the federal government issue subsidies to the provinces that they in turn distribute? If so, a reduction in these subsidies means a reduction in funds directed at maintenance.

 

[sergio]

Trenes Argentinos - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

First paragraph makes it clear they are all federal, under the Ministry of Transport.

I remember that under Duhalde's governorship trains were revived in the provincia under the name Ferrobaires which were run by the province. Then under the Kirchners (I think CFK) they were renationalised.

 

[VincentKMcMahon]

At least the H line subte is nice