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High-speed train collision in Spain kills at least 39

bbc.com

121–130 of 293 posts

Re: High-speed train collision in Spain kills at least 39

#121
post #8

Always try to sit in seats where your back is toward the direction of motion.

Huh. I'd never thought of this. If that is actually meaningfully beneficial, I wonder if they'd design self driving cars with the seats facing backwards, given there's no longer a necessity to look at the road. (edit: I guess it's more of no-brainer on a train/bus where you don't have a seat belt)

Sitting backwards is beneficial if looking at accidents.

But sitting backwards is very very uncomfortable if there is any kind of uneven acceleration, bumps, swaying, rolling, curvy tracks or whatever. Humans need to look forward at the horizon to get their visual stimuli aligned with their motion/balance sense in the inner ear. If that alignment isn't there, you will get seasick. Backwards makes this even worse.

Babies don't suffer from this, because closing your eyes helps, and infants don't have as strong a reaction to motions anyways, due to them usually being carried by their parents until walking age. So reverse baby seats only work for babies.

Re: High-speed train collision in Spain kills at least 39

#122
post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Every government in Spain for the last decade or more has been cutting corners in maintaining the rail networks: high speed (where this accident happened), the conventional network and commuter rail. You failed to mention the fact our budget has been extended since 2023, that the actual track where this happened was given maintenance under a year ago (per the minister, [^1]) and the train that first derailed (Iryo's…

According to current minister, the issues come from others before him, so it indeed makes sense to bring that up. Blaming others for the current underinvestment of the railway network is disingenuous.

Politicians always blame their predecessors.

Re: High-speed train collision in Spain kills at least 39

#123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The railway network has been mismanaged and plagued with incidents for years. See it for yourself: ADIF was aware that there were issues in Adamuz for months[1]. [1]: https://www.elespanol.com/reportajes/20260119/adif-notifico-...

That doesn't mean we know for sure it was that, don't you think? Your comments seem very politically motivated, and you're asking others to not blame it on the train as the reasons for the accident are still unknown and at the same time you're pushing the maintenance issues narrative.

I am nos asking anything. You can think what you want. What the data that we have right now tells us is: new train built in 2022, checked 4 days ago[1], and issues on that part of the railway track for months[2].

[1]: https://elpais.com/espana/2026-01-19/el-fabricante-hitachi-r...

[2]: https://www.elespanol.com/reportajes/20260119/adif-notifico-...

Re: High-speed train collision in Spain kills at least 39

#124
post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

> Maldita.es is founded by ex-employees of La Sexta, a TV channel known to be politically aligned with the socialist party (currently in the government). How does that relate to the Maldita.es article linked by GP commenter? The article starts by debunking a false claim that was made by a minister in the socialist government against the conservative regional government of Madrid.

[flagged]

Re: High-speed train collision in Spain kills at least 39

#125
post #30
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From a derailed train on a straight stretch of track... no. Very likely maintenance related somehow.

Spanish article from LaVanguardia states that the train was rather new and the track recently maintained.

New isn't always better. Lots of these types of accidents are because there was a repair or update that caused the failure.

Re: High-speed train collision in Spain kills at least 39

#126

As a reference, ~1500-2000 people die every year due to cars in Spain.

You have to divide that by miles travelled to get a meaningful number - trains will still be a lot safer, but comparing oranges to apples doesn't help the argument

Re: High-speed train collision in Spain kills at least 39

#127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you dont look so...

[flagged]

Bring up unrelated accidents strikes me as not being completely honest. Why you didn't mention that what you are talking about is a different train network where the accident was today?

Maybe because it would make your point very weak, and you know this. That's why you seem "not relaxed".

Re: High-speed train collision in Spain kills at least 39

#128
post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What course of action would you have suggested?

Not have to do it in the first place because of automated controls and fail-safes?

Sure, but in this case, those don't have exist and you need to make a tough choice, so which is it?

Re: High-speed train collision in Spain kills at least 39

#129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That doesn't mean we know for sure it was that, don't you think? Your comments seem very politically motivated, and you're asking others to not blame it on the train as the reasons for the accident are still unknown and at the same time you're pushing the maintenance issues narrative.

I am nos asking anything. You can think what you want. What the data that we have right now tells us is: new train built in 2022, checked 4 days ago[1], and issues on that part of the railway track for months[2]. [1]: https://elpais.com/espana/2026-01-19/el-fabricante-hitachi-r... [2]: https://www.elespanol.com/reportajes/20260119/adif-notifico-...

Were you so quick to blame the government in the Alvia accident in Santiago? Just wait for the investigation.

Re: High-speed train collision in Spain kills at least 39

#130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

Bring up unrelated accidents strikes me as not being completely honest. Why you didn't mention that what you are talking about is a different train network where the accident was today? Maybe because it would make your point very weak, and you know this. That's why you seem "not relaxed".

[flagged]
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