THE DOORS ARE OPENING AT VARIOUS TIMES WHEN THE TRAIN IS NOT ON THE PLATFORM,THERE ARE 600 VOLT RAILS BELOW,THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A PROBLEM THAT HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN 1999,NOT SURE ABOUT 2000,ALSO ON THE AP WIRE,A FUEL DELIVERY TRUCK IN BUFFALO DELIVERED GASOLINE TO A KEROSENE TANK WHICH CAUSED 3 HOUSE FIRES,PROBABLY HUMAN ERROR.

-- James (jax@borg.com), January 10, 2000

Answers

THANKS FOR THE UPDATES. BTW, THE LIRR IS SO PERMANTLY SCREWED UP THAT THERE IS A WEBSITE DEVOTED TO ITS HORROR STORIES.

-- (shouting@you.james), January 11, 2000.

SHOUTING, You got a link to the horror stories? Thanks.

-- Think It (Through@Pollies.Duh), January 11, 2000.

The LIRR situation is a problem of trains longer than the boarding platforms, and the train crews allowing the doors on the cars extending beyond the platform to open along with those along the platform. With these longer trains, the boarding process is intended to be a two step process. Board the front half, pull up and board the back half.

But passenger service crewmembers can't always override the open-door command if they're busy doing something else. The the sheep-like behavior of the passengers takes over: door opens, go out the door.

They can be thankful that it's only a few feet to the ground without a boarding platform right outside the doors. I have a mental picture of some commuter sheeple with his nose buried in the paper stepping off a train stopped on a bridge...

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), January 11, 2000.

The "I hate the LIRR" page is here. Ah, how it brings back horrible memories of my former life as a commuter!

-- Steve Heller (stheller@koyote.com), January 11, 2000.

A truly hilarious take on the LIRR is available here. It can't help but to bring great amusement to those fortunate enough not to have to ride the original "flaming death train to hell", as the LIRR is fondly known by its victims, er, passengers.

-- Steve Heller (stheller@koyote.com), January 11, 2000.