railroad safety

CSX plans extra training after deaths of 2 conductor trainees

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CSX is telling its conductor trainees to return to their home terminals for additional training...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/csx-plans-extra-training-after-deaths-of-2-conductor-trainees

Report: Data should drive debate on freight train lengths

A report by a nonpartisan think tank suggests that policymakers and Congress take heed before regulating the length of U.S. freight trains, saying that available safety and operations data doesn’t appear to show a causal relationship between train lengths and accident rates.

Rather, regulating train lengths could result in an increase in shorter trains blocking rail crossings at higher rates, according to the Alexandria, Virginia-based Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii), which said...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/report-data-should-drive-debate-on-freight-train-lengths

NTSB: Fatal Amtrak derailment shows need for more track inspections

“Poor track conditions” of a track owned by BNSF may have contributed to a fatal September 2021 accident involving an Amtrak train derailment in Joplin, Montana, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

But NTSB’s investigation report also points to wider questions on how the freight rail industry should deploy technological tools such as autonomous track monitoring systems and what role visual inspections by a human inspector might play in inspections. The federal agency is...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ntsb-fatal-amtrak-derailment-shows-need-for-more-track-inspections

Federal regulators seek feedback on plan to collect train length data

The Federal Railroad Administration is seeking public input on its plan to ask the Class I railroads to submit monthly data on the lengths and weights of trains. 

FRA says the additional data collection is necessary so it has sufficient data available to study train lengths, especially after the agency issued a safety advisory in April telling the railroads to be mindful of the potential complexities associated with operating longer trains. Longer trains could result in more complex in-train...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/federal-regulators-seek-feedback-on-plan-to-collect-train-length-data

Right-leaning groups seek to pare down rail safety bill

Any rail safety bill before Congress should be “rooted in data and pass the muster of cost-benefit analysis,” and should address specific problems, according to a letter signed by over 30 groups and individuals that traditionally support conservative or libertarian economic principles.

The legislation should remove items of debatable merit, such as requiring freight trains to have at least two crew members on board, said the Thursday letter, penned by the Competitive Enterprise Institute and the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/right-leaning-groups-seek-to-pare-down-rail-safety-bill

Canadian safety head marks anniversary of Lac-Mégantic derailment

Much work is still needed to bolster rail safety and prevent another tragic accident like the one that happened in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, 10 years ago, the head of the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) said on Thursday.

“Despite significant safety action taken by [Transport Canada] and the railway industry to reduce the number of unplanned and uncontrolled movements of rail equipment, such events continue to occur, posing a significant risk to people, property, and the environment,” said TSB...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/canadian-safety-head-marks-anniversary-of-lac-megantic-derailment

Lack of information sharing, integration impedes railroad industry R&D

Although February’s train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, has renewed calls to bolster railroad safety, the rail industry needs to be more proactive about how research and development efforts can advance the utilization of freight rail and encourage the railroads to think across departments, sources told FreightWaves.

The factors that play into what gets public and private dollars for research can be complex. One issue is that some topics, such as train crew size and train length, have...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/lack-of-information-sharing-integration-impedes-railroad-industry-rd

Union group pushes for passage of rail safety bill

Rail union representatives are poised to adopt a policy statement that urges Congress to pass a rail safety bill — one that mandates a minimum of two-person crew sizes on all passenger and freight trains, regulates train lengths exceeding 7,500 feet and ensures adequate inspections of rail cars, locomotives and brakes.

The latest policy statement of the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO cites at least 18 areas where regulations and guidance via the Federal Railroad...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/union-group-pushes-for-passage-of-rail-safety-bill

National Steel Car says its wheel sets for rail cars are OK to use

Wheel sets manufactured by Hamilton, Ontario-headquartered National Steel Car are safe to use and weren’t a contributing factor in the March 4 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in Springfield, Ohio, according to the company.

The statement Friday by National Steel Car follows a March advisory from the Association of American Railroads (AAR), which had cautioned rail car owners against using a specific model and series of rail cars because of concerns about loose wheels in this series. The...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/national-steel-car-says-its-wheel-sets-for-rail-cars-are-ok-to-use

FRA links train configuration to 6 derailments, issues safety advisory

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The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a safety advisory that calls on freight railroads...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fra-links-train-configuration-to-6-derailments-issues-safety-advisory

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