273 NJ Transit railcars, 70 engines destroyed in Sandy flooding after storm plan ignored
From ASSOCIATED PRESS
Last Updated: 9:56 AM, August 19, 2013
Posted: 9:55 AM, August 19, 2013
NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey Transit had a hurricane plan to move its trains to higher ground before Hurricane Sandy hit.
But it’s not clear why the agency instead moved locomotives and rail cars to low-lying rail yards in Kearny and Hoboken. A third of the agency’s fleet – 70 locomotives and 273 rail cars – were damaged by flooding from the storm.
The Record newspaper obtained a copy of the 3 1/2-page plan that was prepared four months before Sandy after filing a public-records suit.
The plan calls for moving railcars and locomotives “from flood-prone areas to higher ground” and lists more than a half-dozen locations.
REUTERS
Water floods the complex at the Meadows Maintenance Complex in New Jersey in the aftermath of super storm Sandy in this October 31, 2012 handout photo obtained by Reuters November 1, 2012.
Kearny Yard and Hoboken were not listed.
An NJ Transit spokesman declined to answer questions about why the equipment was moved to those locations.
https://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/initial_instructs_transit_railcars_TMk6j72OSJTRadik7p0nIP
The head of NJ Transit spoke before a New Jersey legislative committee hearing and was asked about this issue. His remarks revealed his absolute and total incompetence. It will ever be to Governor Christie’s detriment that he did not fire the NJ transit head after so many railcars were needlessly destroyed by Sandy.
If Christie does not fire this person it will come back and bite his fat ass.
1. he should have fired him
2. it will have no political impact