I saw a story about the Brighline train in Florida on the news.

The speed of the train running between Miami and Orlando at a maximum speed of 200 km/h, and the fact that you can even order champagne on board, made me realize that the perception of American trains being slow might be changing with such a wonderful option.

However, as the news progressed, the atmosphere changed strangely. The reason this train was in the spotlight was not due to 'innovation' but rather 'accidents.' Since its opening in 2017, there have been over 180 fatalities, and more than 40 people lost their lives last year alone due to being hit by this train, which was honestly quite shocking.

It was hard to believe that even a high-speed train could cause so many accidents. The Long Island Railroad in New York operates nearly a thousand times a day yet has only about 6 fatalities... So people began to call this train the "Death Train."

The Brighline company claimed it was an "unfair nickname," arguing that most accidents were due to personal factors like suicide or drug addiction, but government investigations have yet to reach a clear conclusion.

However, upon listening carefully, it seems that this is not solely the fault of careless individuals.

Originally, the route was only used by freight trains, and now high-speed trains are zooming through, which has drastically changed the environment for local residents.

Many accidents reportedly involved residents walking along paths they used to take regularly. With no fences or warning signs, people who had been accustomed to walking that way suddenly faced the danger of a train traveling at 200 km/h. In fact, one woman in rehabilitation was hit while crossing the tracks on her way to a recovery meeting.

It may not be solely the company's fault, but it also cannot be attributed only to personal responsibility. Suddenly having high-speed trains passing through a neighborhood that had been quiet for 50 years shows a significant gap between people and the system, just as the speed difference suggests.

Despite this, Brighline is still referred to as "the hope of American railroads."

The fact that a private company can create such fast and sophisticated trains opens up new possibilities. In fact, this company is now also promoting a high-speed rail line called Brightline West, connecting Las Vegas and LA.

It's unsettling that a high-speed train is referred to as the 'Death Train.' Ultimately, this news seems to remind us that what matters more than technology is people.