Sad!
Link to press conference?
Unfortunately, given the state of the American people today, we're probably going to need the arms, bells, and whistles at every crossing.
Having the cars together in a straight line is much better. If the cars separated they would be going in different directions and could run into each other = cutting into and crushing each other.
And what would be wrong with that? In my opinion, running 90 mph passenger trains on tracks that cross unprotected grade crossings is crazy. The world you seek has long ago passed.
They're probably extreme for the trains because they're so lax for the road traffic. Trains here have to be built to withstand anything the road throws at them. Elsewhere, things like level crossings exist, with gates that fully close off the road so you can't drive around. In Florida at least they're starting to put up mirrors so people can actually see the train coming without even turning their head.
In Florida are they putting up mirrors in both directions for all tracks? Some would think that putting up aids to help people cross the tracks when protection devices are operating is a bad idea. In fact, it might prove to be a liability for those who installed them.
When the Lincoln Service/Texas Eagle tracks were upgraded for high-speed rail in my town, long crossing gates were installed. People used to drive around the shorter crossing gates when it wasn't obvious a train was approaching (and give "the look" to other drivers not doing likewise), which was dangerous. A few decades ago, the first big personal-injury case my husband's law firm won involved an ungated (and with unlighted cross-buck signs) freight crossing on the N side of town, with 4 teenagers in a car with the radio going who couldn't hear the train horn being killed.
