Argentina & Waiting On Trains
I saw on the news where the people in Buenos Aires started to burn and mash up the train station because they were tired of the constant delays in train schedules. 100 police had to come out in riot gear to quell the riot.
This is not surprising. This took place where thousands of people gather each day to take trains that take them to all parts of the city. For some, it is the only direct method of transportation and when they come tired and frustrated from work, they realize that they have to wait long hours to reach home! I know of people reaching at ridiculous time of the night because of it, even though I do not justify such behavior, believe I fully understand their anger.
Some were saying that a lot of the problems stemmed from the privatization of the train system in Argentina by one of the former Presidents. That is strange, because usually privatization improves things.
That's what most people think, but that's not the case in Argentina. Services (public or private) are very poor. The issue with trains and public transportation in general has been an issue for LONG YEARS and is not going to be solved anytime soon.
At least 40 people have been killed and 550 injured in a train crash in Argentina, state media report.
The train plowed into a platform at a Buenos Aires station, authorities said.
Transportation Secretary Juan Pablo Schiavi said authorities believe there were problems with the train's brakes. Ref. CNN
Commuter train slams into station, again
An Argentine commuter train slammed into the end of the line today at the same station in Buenos Aires where 52 people were killed in a similar crash last year. This time there was no immediate report of deaths, but at least 80 people were injured. Ref. Source 4