SINCE THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE VIRGIN TRAINS USA (FORMERLY BRIGHTLINE) RAIL SERVICE, OVER 40 PEOPLE HAVE DIED. This makes this high-speed passenger rail have the "worst per-mile death rate of the nation's 821 railroads," as stated by the Fox Business.
Brightline President, Patrick Goddard, is quick to dismiss Brightline at fault of these deaths. However, Brightline and Federal Railroad Administration officials should have known that placing a passenger rail, going over 79 mph through heavilly-populated areas of the Treasure Coast, would be dangerous and potentially fatal. Many of these deaths could have been avoided if safety measures, such as barriers and four-way gates, were erected before launching the train.
Regardless, accusing the dead or one another is not appropriate when over 40 lives have been lost. We need to stop this train or we need adequate safety measures, constructed for every corridor, to ensure the lives of Floridian residents are protected as well as the crew members and passengers aboard the train.
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