Somber Train Commuters Ride Again in Southern California

"Commuters returned to Southern California's rails today, the first workday after a deadly train collision in Chatsworth, as Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Metrolink officials tried to assure people that riding the train is still safer than navigating local freeways."

"Villaraigosa joined commuters this morning at the Chatsworth train station to try to reassure people about taking the train and that safety is Metrolink's first priority."

'I want to dispel any fears about taking the train," he said. "Safety has to be our No. 1 concern. Taking the train is still the safest option for commuters.'"

"Commuter Barbara Copelof, a supervisor for a credit union in Glendale, took the train from the Chatsworth station this morning, saying she wanted to overcome her fear after Friday's crash. She clutched a newspaper clipping about commuter Roger Spacey, a 60-year-old Simi Valley resident she knew from riding the train who was killed in the accident."

"'I needed to connect with my train people to make sure they were OK,' she said."