Bangkok’s Sky-train Service Unaffected By Accident

[george]

Bangkok’s Sky-train service unaffected by minor accident

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Transit System (BTS) offiicials have quickly assured the city’s sky train commuters that their safety was not at risk after a minor accident, early on Saturday morning, injured five staff members.

“The accident will not affect the Sky-train service which resumed as normal on Saturday/today,” the Acting President of the Bangkok Transit System (BTS) Anat Apapirom told TNA.

The accident occurred at 00.30 when a maintenance car hit another train carriage stopped at the Ari station waiting for further orders from the control room. There were no passengers on the train at the time as the BTS service stops at midnight.

“Initial investigation results suggest the accident was caused by human error,” Mr. Anat said.

The driver of the maintenance car failed to stopped at the agreed point ordered by the control room and caused the minor accident, he added.

The accident was not the fault of the BTS which has a computer-run safety system to prevent error.

The BTS is an elevated, rail-based mass transit system that runs 18 metres above the ground though Bangkok’s business district.

There are two lines -- the Sukhumvit and Silom Lines. The transit network serves some 24 stations over a more than twenty kilometres.

The manufacturers, Siemens handed over the turnkey system at the end of 1999, but have been responsible for its maintenance ever since.

-- TNA 2005-04-02

[RDN]

...“Initial investigation results suggest the accident was caused by human error,” Mr. Anat said.

...The accident was not the fault of the BTS which has a computer-run safety system to prevent error....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ah, those dammn humans get everywhere.

That's strange, I thought computer-run safety systems could detect where two carriages were on the line, and stop them bumping into each other. But not this computer-run safety system. Apparently.

[Rinrada]

TIT

[stumonster]

Ah, those dammn humans get everywhere.

That's strange, I thought computer-run safety systems could detect where two carriages were on the line, and stop them bumping into each other. But not this computer-run safety system. Apparently.

But the computer cannot stop Humans overiding the systems - all computer controlled systems have overide built in , but there also should be strict proceedures to be followed when overiding the controls.

[Crossy]

Looks like this was a maintenance car under human control. Didn't stop where he was supposed to and nudged a train that was stopped in the station.

Pilot error!

[RDN]

Ah, those dammn humans get everywhere.

That's strange, I thought computer-run safety systems could detect where two carriages were on the line, and stop them bumping into each other. But not this computer-run safety system. Apparently.

But the computer cannot stop Humans overiding the systems - all computer controlled systems have overide built in , but there also should be strict proceedures to be followed when overiding the controls.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's this"override" that I'm thinking could be taken out - or not built in in the first place. I'm thinking of a "hard-wired" system that always shuts off power when carriages are detected on adjacent strips of track, and applies the brakes.

But if the system is 100% "fly-by-wire", where the computer has overall control of everything, then - for sure - humans could cause a problem.

[Crossy]

AFAIK Skytrain has ATP (automatic train protection) NOT ATC (automatic train control).

ATP has a driver who is in control of the train, he has the equivalent of the regular rail signals in his cab which he should obey, if trains approach too close the driver will get a number of alerts before the brakes are applied to stop the train.

ATC can operate without a driver, PUTRA LRT in KL is driverless ATC.

BUT

ALL these systems have overrides to allow trains to couple up and for depot operations, the override would not normally be activated during passenger operations unless there was a system failure, but remember this nudge happened outside operation hours. The power may even have been off on the section (the maintenance cars have diesel engines).

We shall see if any official report comes out.

DC

[Oleg_Rus]

Cool! taking subway and sky train in the same time is like black and red on crap table of roulette! Either one will click ! and now, when most of elevators in the buildings need maintanence - what's your bets?

[NedKelly]

Skytrains beenrunning since 99 I think...and how many accidents inthat time ? Bugger all !! So they're doing quite well I think. Please cap the negative bullshite !!