Rail Safety
Trains have been used in the United States since the 1800s to
transport both people and goods, and they remain one of the most
common forms of transportation. Rail lines cover the country and
in Pennsylvania alone run through Harrisburg, Johnstown,
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton. Although transportation
by rail is considered one of the safest forms of travel,
accidents do occur. Possible accidents can range from a minor
derailment to a serious collision with another train or with a
vehicle at a crossing.Recent Safety Statistics
A wealth of train safety information is published by the Federal
Railroad Administration Office of Safety Analysis on its
website. The latest available statistics show that from January
2008 to March 2008 – a three-month period – trains were involved
in 167 total accidents throughout the state of Pennsylvania. The
total number of accidents is comprised of train accidents,
highway-rail incidents and other incidents.
Train Accidents
The Federal Railroad Administration defines a train accident as
an “event involving ontrack rail equipment that results in
monetary damage to the equipment and track above a certain
threshold. Lading, clearing costs, environmental damage is not
included.” Twenty of the 167 total accidents for the first
quarter of 2008 were train accidents and 13 of the 20 occurred
on yard track. The primary causes of the train accidents were
human factors (7), track defects (6), equipment defects (5), and
miscellaneous causes (2). Passenger trains were involved in 2 of
the train accidents.
Highway-Rail Incidents
A highway-rail incident is considered by the Federal Railroad
Administration to be “any impact between a rail and a highway
user at a crossing site, regardless of severity.” This includes
motor vehicles and other highway/roadway/sidewalk users at both
public and private crossings. There are approximately 4,353
public crossings in Pennsylvania and 3,166 private crossings. Of
the 167 total accidents, two fatalities occurred at crossings.
Eight were fatal and all of the fatalities occurred as a result
of highway-rail incidents. Two of the fatalities occurred at
crossings while the other 6 were trespassing incidents.
Other Incidents
The remaining 136 incidents are defined by the Federal Railroad
Administration as other incidents. This involves “events other
then train accidents or crossing incidents that caused a death
or nonfatal condition to any person.” Such events include
getting on or off equipment, doing maintenance work, throwing
switches, setting handbrakes, stumbling, and tripping. Most
fatalities in this category are to trespassers and, in fact, six
such fatalities occurred in the first quarter of 2008.
The figures also show that 82 rail employees were injured
while on duty and that 15 passengers were injured. Passenger
accidents include getting off or on standing trains, stumbling
aboard trains, assaults, train accidents, crossing incidents,
etc.
Safety Statistics for 2007
The figures for all of 2007 hint at what can be expected for the
rest of 2008. In 2007, trains were involved in 836 accidents
throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Eighty of the 836 total
accidents were train accidents and almost 50 % of them occurred
on yard track (37). The primary causes of the train accidents
were track defects (31), human factors (22), equipment defects
(12), miscellaneous causes (10), and signal defects (5).
Passenger trains were involved in 23 of the train accidents and
1 of the accidents resulted in a release of hazardous material.
Of the 836 total accidents, 23 were fatal and all of the
fatalities occurred as a result of highway-rail incidents. Five
of the fatalities occurred at crossings while the other 23 were
trespassing incidents. The figures also show that 424 employees
were injured while on duty and that 200 passengers were injured. |
