WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Trains may not be heard until it's too late. (Clinton-WTNH) _ Even if the mother and children heard the train coming they may not have had enough time to get out of the way. Many Amtrak trains travel through Connecticut up to 90-miles an hour. But sometimes you can't hear them until they are just yards away. In a few months when high-speed rail service begins the trains will be even quieter. News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports. It's hard to believe that something so big can sneak up on you but it can. A speeding train can be very deceptive. George Montoya, Old Saybrook: "It's making the same sound all along but until it gets within hearing range you're not aware of it, and suddenly there it is, monstrous!" Montoya ought to know. His business is just feet from the railroad tracks. he says people just don't realize how quickly a train can catch up to them. here's an example: I'm on the platform at the Clinton station. An Amtrak train will be coming through here in a few seconds. If I turn around, I can see it off in the distance, but with my back turned I'd have no idea it's coming because I can't hear it. The train is going between 80 and 90mph and is almost outrunning its own noise. By the time I hear it it's already on top of us. The time between hearing it, and when it arrived, was about five seconds. If someone is on the tracks and not looking the right way they'd have very little opportunity to get out of the way. When Amtrak starts using new high-speed trains there'll be even less. The engines are not only faster but are also quieter, and the trains will be coming by more frequently. Amtrak officials say people have got to be aware of the dangers involved. Chris Riley, Amtrak: "You don't get a second chance with a train. These are not automobiles that can stop quickly, or swerve. There's no steering wheel on a train. The train is only going to be on the track." Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Trains may not be heard until it's too late.
(Clinton-WTNH) _ Even if the mother and children heard the train coming they may not have had enough time to get out of the way. Many Amtrak trains travel through Connecticut up to 90-miles an hour. But sometimes you can't hear them until they are just yards away. In a few months when high-speed rail service begins the trains will be even quieter.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports.

It's hard to believe that something so big can sneak up on you but it can. A speeding train can be very deceptive.

George Montoya, Old Saybrook: "It's making the same sound all along but until it gets within hearing range you're not aware of it, and suddenly there it is, monstrous!"

Montoya ought to know. His business is just feet from the railroad tracks. he says people just don't realize how quickly a train can catch up to them. here's an example:

I'm on the platform at the Clinton station. An Amtrak train will be coming through here in a few seconds. If I turn around, I can see it off in the distance, but with my back turned I'd have no idea it's coming because I can't hear it. The train is going between 80 and 90mph and is almost outrunning its own noise. By the time I hear it it's already on top of us. The time between hearing it, and when it arrived, was about five seconds. If someone is on the tracks and not looking the right way they'd have very little opportunity to get out of the way.

When Amtrak starts using new high-speed trains there'll be even less. The engines are not only faster but are also quieter, and the trains will be coming by more frequently. Amtrak officials say people have got to be aware of the dangers involved.

Chris Riley, Amtrak: "You don't get a second chance with a train. These are not automobiles that can stop quickly, or swerve. There's no steering wheel on a train. The train is only going to be on the track."

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