Falling Off Track. Boston Herald Transportation Reporter Gayla Cawley broke an exclusive story today which revealed rising defects in the Commonwealth’s brand new MBTA Orange and Red Line vehicles and a lack of proper action from the MBTA's Chinese contractor to fix them. Paperwork obtained by the Herald shows the Chinese rail company CRRC did not resolve identified defects brought forth by the MBTA but rather “force-closed” some quality item reports. The documents also showed that in January 2022, CRRC only delivered nine of the promised 34 two-car Orange Line train sets, reused safety-critical hardware, and submitted “approval to proceed” forms to bypass inspections. Cawley joins Dan to expand upon this story.
The Toxic Derailment. On February 3, 2023, a train passing through eastern Ohio carrying hazardous materials partially derailed and caught fire, sending thick, black smoke billowing into the air and into the surrounding communities. On top of that, a controlled release and burn of toxins from the train was also performed. Several toxic chemicals were released into the air and soil that day, raising concerns about what will linger even after a clean-up is performed. How safe is our rail system and should we be concerned about cargo?
The Vulnerability of our Electric Grid. The world relies heavily on electronic devices, from personal phones to government satellites. Now imagine the U.S. being hit with a weaponized electromagnetic pulse. Could we handle it? Are there measures in place to protect our country from such an attack? Ray Gorham, the author of 77 Days in September and Daunting Days of Winter, joins Dan to outline the chances of an EMP attack and how well we would fare if hit with one.
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