George Harris
Engineer
Caltrain - the San Francisco to San Jose commuter service - has had two fatalities, one yesterday, one today both apparent suicides. Publicity has been fairly minimal, which I consider a very good idea so as not to encourage copycats. The two do not appear to be related, even though they occurred within a couple miles of each other. Yesterday's was about 4 miles south of Palo Alto station and today's about 2 miles south of PA. Today's occurred late in the morning rush hour period.
Last year I hear a couple conductors discussing the plan to put a suicide barrier on the Golden Gate bridge. The essence was, Oh no. Now they will come down here and jump in front of trains. It is their nightmare. It is the conductor, not the engineer, and not the EMS or law enforcement people that first go back and look and find the body or pieces thereof. Absolutely one of their worst nightmares.
Last year I hear a couple conductors discussing the plan to put a suicide barrier on the Golden Gate bridge. The essence was, Oh no. Now they will come down here and jump in front of trains. It is their nightmare. It is the conductor, not the engineer, and not the EMS or law enforcement people that first go back and look and find the body or pieces thereof. Absolutely one of their worst nightmares.