By Saria Kraft kraft@theacorn.com

Last year alone, 113 people were killed along the train tracks and railway crossings of California. Another 111 were injured, according to federal railroad statistics.

In Ventura County last month, a teenager was struck down as she walked next to some tracks in Ventura. And in Simi Valley, a train crushed a car at the Sycamore crossing. The driver had fled the car in time to escape injury.

After two collisions in Moorpark last November—one that resulted in death and another that left a young man critically injured— Mayor Patrick Hunter was determined to put the brakes on future mishaps.

"In all but the rare instance, these are all preventable accidents," Hunter said. "I will not be satisfied with a reduction. I want the total elimination of these incidents."

The Officer on a Train program pulled into Moorpark last week in support of the mayor’s resolve.

The three-day event, sponsored by Operation Lifesaver and the Southern California Rail Safety Team, made stops in Camarillo and Santa Barbara earlier in the week.

During the six-hour exercise, Sgt. Craig Smith rode aboard Engine 5470 while signaling to teams on the ground that consisted of Moorpark Police and other sheriff’s deputies. A video camera with an engineer’s view of the tracks peered down at potential violators.

All along the Union Pacific Railroad property between Moorpark and Simi Valley, officers were on the lookout for pedestrians and vagrants.

A dozen violations, including six citations and one arrest, were documented by midmorning. Trespassing within 25 feet of the tracks carries a $271 fine.

"Sometimes it’s kids taking the tracks as a shortcut," said Steve Smith of Operation Lifesaver. "You see kids fishing under the bridges and people walking their dogs. But parolees, some of whom are armed, hide under those bridges. It’s not safe."

As the train approached Moorpark Avenue, the mayor stood between the engineer and Sgt. Smith. Just ahead, a woman scurried through the crosswalk while hastily pushing a baby stroller. For one brief moment, the pair’s safety seemed jeopardized. The woman and child cleared the train’s path in time, but many pedestrians do not.

"When the lights flash and the bells ring, you’ve got three seconds before the gates come down," said engineer Jerry Paden. "There’s a 25 to 30-second window before the train comes through the crossing."

Some drivers think they can beat that time frame. Sgt. Smith spotted a blue pickup speeding through a crossing near Villa del Arroyo mobile homes. The gates were halfway down as the truck tried to push through and tailgated a car in front.

"The gates work by automatic sensors on the tracks," Paden said. "They must be fully lowered before we cross the gates. But big trucks, they break the gates right off. It’s nerve wracking."

When a train pulls into a station, it’s carrying a hefty load. The lead engine alone weighs 415,000 pounds. A Metrolink train with locomotive and passenger cars will weigh approximately 450 tons.

Once the emergency brakes are applied it takes a third of a mile or more to stop the train. Depending on the number of cargo cars and their contents, a freight train can take two miles to come to a stop.

"You can’t just rely on (passenger) schedules," Smith said. "Freight trains use these tracks and variables happen every day."

Metrolink operates 16 trains per day on the Ventura County Line. Nearly 40,000 passengers travel its system daily. To schedule a presentation about rail safety, call (800) 371-LINK.

Operation Lifesaver provides instructional materials in both English and Spanish. The group offers safety tips for student, mature and professional drivers. To learn more, visit www.oli.org.