The following “Letter to the Editor” was written by Merrill Snyder, a Board Member of The Guardians of Martin County. It was published on December 17, 2019 in the Treasure Coast Newspapers.
A Dec. 5 article, citing the Associated Press, said Virgin Trains USA operates the deadliest trains among the nation’s 821 railroads. Virgin Trains, 
formerly Brightline, has averaged more than one death a month since operations began. Some track record.
How has Virgin Trains responded? By claiming 75 percent of the deaths are from suicide. Suddenly in the last 24 months Florida residents have decided to jump in front of bright new trains in record numbers. Maybe there’s something in the water here. Or maybe it’s a matter of prestige — like the suicide jumpers in San Francisco choosing the Golden Gate over the Bay Bridge as a way out.
Clearly, other railroads have operated far longer with far fewer deaths per mile. If suicide by train is so attractive, why haven’t other lines seen a similar pattern of suicides? Maybe Virgin Trains’ crossings are simply less safe.
Management admits, “We need to look to do more.” No kidding. It’s not good enough to lament the fatalities and worry that these incidents are “devastating for crews” on the trains.
Stop promising wonderfulness and blaming everybody but yourselves for the disaster you’ve created. Stop trying to make citizens responsible for the safety features that you should pay for. And, given the performance of the other 820 railroads, stop implying that Florida residents are at fault because they’re uniquely eager to jump in front of trains.
Recently, an Amtrak train killed a grandmother and her two grandsons on a nearby track. Florida is launching an investigation into safety features at railroad crossings. Florida, please be sure to investigate Virgin Trains, the deadliest rail line per mile in the United States. Nothing matters more than citizen safety.
As for Virgin, eliminate all the angst and death by simply scrapping your expansion plans.
Merrill Snyder, Palm City