U.S. Railroad Safety Statistics and Trends Peter W. French AVP- Safety & Performance Analysis Association of American Railroads July 29, 2008
Railroad Safety: Topics Safety Statistics & Trends – Train Safety (Train Accidents) – Grade Crossing Safety – Trespassers – Passenger Safety – Employee Safety – Hazardous Materials Safety
Railroad Safety: Topics (continued) RR Initiatives to Improve Safety Improvements in Technology Safety Programs Risk-Based Safety Performance Standards
U.S. Railroad Safety Statistics: Main Themes Railroads have dramatically improved safety over the last two and a half decades. Railroads compare favorably with other industries & transportation modes. The most troubling railroad safety problems arise from factors largely outside railroad control. Railroads have implemented numerous and effective technological improvements and company-wide safety programs.
U.S. Railroad Safety Statistics: In 2007, U.S. railroads achieved their safest year ever by the following major safety yardsticks: Train Accident Rate, down 10% from Grade Crossing Collisions and Collision Rates, down 6% and 4% from Employee Casualties and Rates missed the 2006 records by 0.8% and 1.4%. Sources: FRA website: (Preliminary 2007 data) FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-1, 1-2. FRA, Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Tables 1, 51.
In 2007, 95% of rail-related fatalities were grade crossing users and trespassers. Trespassers: 473 (56%) Grade Crossing Users: 337 (39%) Employees: 17 Passengers: 4Others: 20 Sources: FRA website: (preliminary 2007 data). FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report 2005, Table 1-3.
In 2007, 60% of rail-related injuries were incurred by employees on duty. Passengers: 1,058 Others: 1,254 Sources: FRA website: (preliminary 2007 data). FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report 2005, Table 1-3. Employees 5,263 Grade Crossing Users: 828 Trespassers: 398
Train accidents per million train-miles have dropped 71% since 1980 and 30% since 1990, to a new low. Sources: FRA website: (preliminary 2007 data). FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-1, 1-2. FRA, Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Tables 19, 36. Note: Excludes grade crossing accidents
Train collisions per million train-miles have dropped 85% since 1980 and 51% since Sources: FRA website: (preliminary 2007 data). FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-1, 5-6. FRA, Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Tables 19, 36. Note: Excludes grade crossing collisions
Mainline train collisions per million train-miles on Class I freight railroads have dropped 85% since 1980 and 54% since Sources: FRA website: AAR Analysis of FRA train accident database through FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-1, 5-6; FRA, Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Tables 19, 36. Note: Excludes grade crossing collisions. Includes passenger train collisions on Class I freight railroads All Collisions: All RRs Mainline & Sidings: Class I Freight RRs All Consists Frt Trains Only
Derailments per million train-miles have dropped 74% since 1980 and 33% since 1990, to a new low. Sources: FRA website: & r02.htm (preliminary 2007 data) FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-1, 5-6. FRA, Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Tables 19, 36. Note: Excludes grade crossing accidents
Equipment-caused accidents per million train-miles have dropped 80% since 1980 and 42% since Sources: FRA website: & r02.htm (preliminary 2007 data) FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-1, 5-9. FRA, Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Tables 19, 36. Note: Excludes grade crossing accidents
Track-caused accidents per million train-miles have dropped 76% since 1980 and 28% since 1990, to a new low. Sources: FRA website: & r02.htm (preliminary 2007 data) FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-1, 5-9. FRA, Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Tables 19, 36. Note: Excludes grade crossing accidents
Human factors-caused accidents per million train-miles have dropped 61% since 1980 and 30% since Sources: FRA website: & r02.htm (preliminary 2007 data) FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-1, 5-9. FRA, Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Tables 19, 36. Note: Excludes grade crossing accidents
Brake equipment-related train accidents have dropped 85% since 1980 and 43% since Sources: FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Table 5-9. FRA Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Table 19. AAR Analysis of FRA Train Accident Database through Note: Includes accidents due to locomotive brake defects
Brake equipment-related train accident rates have dropped 86% since 1980 and 56% since Sources: FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Table 1-1, 5-9. FRA Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Table 19, 36. AAR Analysis of FRA Train Accident Database through Note: Includes accidents due to locomotive brake defects Accidents per Million Train-Miles
Wheel equipment-related train accident rates have dropped 85% since 1980 and 54% since Sources: FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Table 1-1, 5-9. FRA Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Table 19, 36. AAR Analysis of FRA Train Accident Database through Note: Includes accidents due to locomotive wheel defects Accidents per Million Train-Miles
Axle and bearings-related train accident rates have dropped 78% since 1980 and 54% since Sources: FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Table 1-1, 5-9. FRA Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Table 19, 36. AAR Analysis of FRA Train Accident Database through Note: Includes accidents due to locomotive axle or bearing defects Accidents per Million Train-Miles
Truck component-related train accident rates have dropped 83% since 1980 and 50% since Sources: FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Table 1-1, 5-9. FRA Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Table 19, 36. AAR Analysis of FRA Train Accident Database through Note: Includes accidents due to locomotive truck component defects Accidents per Million Train-Miles
Grade crossing collisions have declined 74% since 1980 and 52% since Sources: FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Table 1-1. FRA Highway/Rail Crossing Accident/Incident & Inventory Bulletin, , Table S. FRA website: (preliminary 2007 data) Notes: Includes collisions involving pedestrians. Includes collisions at private crossings. 10,611 5,715 2,749
Grade crossing fatalities have declined 59% since 1980 and 52% since Sources: FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-1, 1-3. FRA Highway/Rail Crossing Accident/Incident & Inventory Bulletin, , Table S. FRA website: (preliminary 2007 data) Note: Includes pedestrians, employees, passengers, and collisions at private crossings
Grade crossing injuries have declined 73% since 1980 and 57% since Sources: FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-1, 1-3. FRA Highway/Rail Crossing Accident/Incident & Inventory Bulletin, , Table S. FRA website: (preliminary 2007 data) Note: Includes pedestrians, employees, passengers, and collisions at private crossings. 3,890 2,407 1,031
Grade crossing collision rates have declined for 29 consecutive years, 77% since 1980 and 63% since Sources: FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Table 1-1. FRA Highway/Rail Crossing Accident/Incident & Inventory Bulletin, , Table S. FRA website: & r02.htm (preliminary 2007 data) Note: Includes accidents involving pedestrians and collisions at private crossings Grade Crossing Collisions per Million Train-Miles
Since 1980, the total number of public crossings has declined 35%, while the number with gates has increased 146%. Sources: AAR Analysis of December 2007 FRA Grade Crossing Inventory Database. FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report 2005, Table 9-3. FRA Highway/Rail Crossing Accident/Incident & Inventory Bulletin, 1980, Table % Decrease Passive 75% Passive 54% Lights 17% Gates 8% Gates 29%
Grade crossing warning device upgrades work. Gates cut the accident & fatality rates by 93%. Source: AAR Analysis of FRA Grade Crossing Incident & Inventory Databases, using incident data and the December 2003 inventory data. Note: Collision opportunities are measured here as the average number of trains per hour multiplied by the average number of vehicles per hour moving over each crossing. It is useful primarily as a measure of relative, not absolute, exposure, since the time period (hour) is arbitrary. Grade Crossing Collisions per Billion Collision Opportunities
Grade crossing collisions are usually caused by motorist error. Drove Around Gate: 16% Did Not Stop 41% Sources: AAR Analysis of Highway-Rail Incident Database for 2007 (July 2008). FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report 2005, Table 8-6. Note: Motor vehicle highway-rail incidents at public crossings. Stopped on Tracks: 29% Stopped, Proceeded 6% Other 8%
Trespasser fatalities continue to be a significant safety problem. Sources: FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-2, FRA Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Table 13. FRA website: (preliminary 2007 data) Note: Excludes "trespasser" fatalities at grade crossings
But the trespasser fatality rate per million train miles was still the lowest in 25 years in Sources: FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-2, FRA Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Table 13. FRA website: (preliminary 2007 data) Note: Excludes "trespasser" fatalities at grade crossings
85% of trespasser fatalities in 2007 resulted from being struck by trains or freight cars. Struck by On-Track Equipment 410 Source: AAR Analysis of FRA Casualty Database for FRA, RR Safety Statistics Annual Report 2005, Table Note: Excludes "trespasser" fatalities at grade crossings. Other 71 Train Accidents 3
Many Trespassers are Killed While Intoxicated. A North Carolina study for the period found that 78% of 128 trespassers killed on railroad property were intoxicated. The median blood alcohol level for this group was 2.5 times the legal limit. A 1994 South Carolina study of 24 train-related pedestrian fatalities found that 79% were intoxicated. Toxicology results on 78 of 132 railroad trespassers killed in Georgia in the period found 40 (51%) with alcohol levels above 100 mg/dL. A 2005 survey of coroners and Chief Medical Examiners found that alcohol and/or drugs were judged to be a factor in 530 (57%) of 929 trespasser fatalities in the period for which the additional data could be obtained. Sources: Andrew Pelletier, MD, "Deaths Among Railroad Trespassers: The Role of Alcohol in Fatal Injuries,” Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 277, No. 13, April 2, 1997, pp Center for Disease Control, Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 48, No. 25, July 2, Bruce George, “Rail Trespasser Fatalities: Developing Demographic Profiles,” presentation to Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, January 15, 2008.
Passengers are 15 to 20 times as likely to die on the highway as on a train. Sources: BTS, U.S. Air Carrier Traffic Statistics, Domestic Sched & Unsched; NTSB, Aviation Accident Data Base; FHWA, Highway Statistics 2006, Table VM-1. NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts 2006, Early Ed., Table 4, p. 18. FRA Accident/Incident Bulletin, Tables 13, 36; RR Safety Statistics Annual Report 2005, Tables 1-3, 2-9. Excludes 232 airline passenger fatalities in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Passenger Fatalities per Billion Passenger Miles Highway RailroadsAirlines
Railroads and airlines have comparable passenger fatality rates. Sources: BTS, U.S. Air Carrier Traffic Statistics, Domestic Sched & Unsched; NTSB, Aviation Accident Data Base; FRA Accident/Incident Bulletin, Tables 13, 36; RR Safety Statistics Annual Report 2005, Tables 1-3, 2-9. Note: 1993 RR fatalities included 42 killed in one Amtrak accident caused by a barge hitting & misaligning a RR bridge and another 6 killed by a gunman on the Long Island RR. Excludes 232 fatalities in 9/11 attacks. Passenger Fatalities per Billion Passenger Miles RailroadsAirlines
Railroads have reduced employee casualty rates by 80% since 1980 and 71% since Sources: FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-2, 4-1. FRA Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Tables 13, 36. FRA website: & r02.htm (preliminary 2007 data) Note: Casualties include fatalities as well as injuries and occupational illnesses Total Casualties per 100 Full-Time Employees
Railroads have lower employee injury rates than do other major industry groups. Lost Workday Injuries & Illnesses per 100 Full Time Employees, 2006 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Railroads have lower employee injury rates than do other transportation modes. Lost Workday Injuries & Illnesses per 100 Full Time Employees, 2006 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Railroads have lower employee fatality rates than do other transportation modes. Fatalities per 100,000 Full Time Employees, 2006 Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2006, Table 2; And BLS Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages (QCEW) Program for number of employees. FRA website: (preliminary 2006 data). FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report 2005, Tables 1-1 and 1-2.
Railroads have about the same injury severity as do other industries. Percent of Lost Workday Employee Injuries, 2006 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Table R49. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by nature of injury and industry division, oshwc/osh/case/ostb1841.pdf. AAR Analysis of FRA Casualty Database for See also FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report 2005, Table 4-1.
Railroads have about the same injury severity as do other industries. Percent of Lost Workday Employee Injuries, 2006 (Sprains not shown) Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Table R49. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by nature of injury and industry division, oshwc/osh/case/ostb1841.pdf. AAR Analysis of FRA Casualty Database for See also FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report 2005, Table 4-1.
U.S. railroads have had lower employee injury rates than have most major European railroads. Sources: UIC, Statistics on Accidents at Work, FRA, Accident/Incident Bulletin, Tables 43, 45, 46. FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Reports, , Tables 4-1, 1-1. UIC discontinued these stats after Notes: Excludes occupational illnesses. Excludes injuries with no days away from work. Includes fatal injuries. Data for Sweden & Norway ( ) and for U.S. (all years) is per 200,000 hours actually worked, hence higher. Lost Workday Injuries per 100 Employees Germany Spain Belgium Italy Austria France U.S. BR Norway Sweden Britain
The safest U.S. RRs have had lower employee injury rates than have the safest European RRs. Sources: UIC, Statistics on Accidents at Work, FRA, Accident/Incident Bulletin, Tables 43, 45, 46. FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Reports, , Tables 4-1, 1-1. UIC discontinued these stats after Notes: Excludes occupational illnesses. Excludes injuries with no days away from work. Includes fatal injuries. Data for Sweden & Norway ( ) and for U.S. (all years) is per 200,000 hours actually worked, hence higher. Lost Workday Injuries per 100 Employees NS BR NorwaySweden CSX IC BNSF UP
In 2007, train accidents and grade crossing collisions accounted for less than 4% of employee injuries. All Other Incidents 96.35% Source: FRA website: (preliminary 2007 data) See also FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report 2005, Table 1-3. Train Accidents 1.71% Grade Crossing Collisions 1.94%
Railroads have reduced employee fatalities by 82% since 1980 and 57% since Sources: FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-2, 1-3, 4-2. FRA Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Tables 13. Employee on Duty Fatalities. FRA website: (preliminary 2007 data)
Railroads employee fatality rates have fallen 51% since Sources: FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-1, 4-2. FRA Accident/Incident Bulletin, , Tables 13, 36. FRA website: & r02.htm (preliminary 2007 data) & r02.htm Employee On-Duty Fatalities per 100,000 Employees
Of 21 employee fatalities in 2007, 12 were due to being struck or crushed by moving on-track equipment. Sources: News clippings and FRA, Monthly Reports on Employee Fatalities, FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-2. Road Train Collision - 2 Switching, Struck Or Crushed By Cars or Locos. (“SOFA”)- 6 MOW – Other - 4 MOE – Electrocution - 1 MOW Struck by Train - 5 MOE – Highway Accident - 1 Grade Xing Collision - 1 Transp, Struck by Train
Of 16 employee fatalities in 2006, none occurred in train accidents, 4 occurred in grade crossing collisions, and 9 were due to being struck by moving on-track equipment. Sources: News clippings and FRA, Monthly Reports on Employee Fatalities, FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-2. Transp Switching, Struck Or Crushed By Cars or Locos. (“SOFA”)- 5 MOW In Hwy Accident - 1 MOE in Veh Collision - 1 MOW Struck by MOW Equip - 2 MOE in Grade Xing Collision - 2 Transp in Grade Crossing Collision - 2 Other – 1 Veh struck bldg. MOE Struck or Crushed by Frt Cars - 2
Of 25 employee fatalities in 2005, 11 were due to being struck or crushed by moving on-track equipment and 8 were in train or grade crossing collisions. Sources: News clippings and FRA, Monthly Reports on Employee Fatalities, FRA, Railroad Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 1-2. Road Train Collisions - 7 Switching, Struck Or Crushed By Cars or Locos. (“SOFA”)- 11 MOW In Hwy Accident - 2 Explosion - 1 MOW Struck by Train - 2 Electrocution - 1 Transportation, Not in Train Accident Transportation: Train Accident Grade Xing Collision - 1 Maint of Equip. Maint. of Way
Hazmat accident rates have declined 87% since 1980 and 34% since Sources: FRA, RR Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Table 6-1. FRA, Accident/Incident Bulletin, Table 26. AAR Analysis of 2006 FRA Train Accident Database. Carloads from ICC/STB Waybill Sample, Terminated carloads adjusted to counter known hazmat underreporting. Prior to 2003 terminated carloads overestimated by 10% to 15% due to inability to exclude duplicates associated with rebilling. Train Accidents with a Release per Thousand Hazmat Carloads % of Carloads are Accident Release Free
Accidents with a hazmat release have declined 61% since Sources: FRA, RR Safety Statistics Annual Report, , Tables 6-1. FRA, Accident/Incident Bulletin, Table 26. AAR Analysis of 2007 FRA Train Accident Database. Note: An accident may involve releases from more than one car. Reportable Train Accidents with a Hazmat Release
Hazmat incident release rates have declined 72% since 1980 and 58% since Sources: USDOT, Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Hazardous Materials Incidents by Year & Mode. for Includes releases in train accidents as well as non-accident releases. ICC/STB Waybill Sample Terminated carloads adjusted to counter known hazmat underreporting. Prior to 2003 terminated carloads overestimated by 10% to 15% due to inability to exclude duplicates associated with rebilling. Incidents per Thousand Hazmat Carloads % Incident Free
Over the last 10 years, about 1.1% of train accidents have resulted in a release of hazardous materials. No Hazmat Cars Present 23, % Source: AAR Analysis of FRA Train Accident Databases, July Note: Includes grade crossing train accidents meeting dollar threshold. Hazmat Released % Hazmat Cars in Consist 3, % Hazmat Cars Derailed or Damaged 3, %
In 2007, about 1.6% of reportable train accidents resulted in a release of hazardous materials. No Hazmat Cars Present 2, % Source: AAR Analysis of Year 2007 FRA Train Accident Database, July Note: Includes grade crossing train accidents meeting dollar threshold. Hazmat Released % Hazmat Cars in Consist % Hazmat Cars Derailed or Damaged %
Rail freight transport incurs about 12% of the fatalities that trucks do per trillion ton-miles. Sources: AAR Analysis of FRA Casualty Database for Rail Ton-Miles in 2006 from RR Facts, 2007, pp. 27, 32. USDOT, FMCSA, Large Truck Crash Facts, 2006, Table 13, (p. 19) Tractor-trailer net ton-miles in 2002 estimated at 1.14 trillion from 2002 USDOC,Vehicle Inventory & Use Survey (VIUS), updated to 2006 based on VMT from same Table ,7613,207
Rail freight transport incurs about 6% of the injuries that trucks do per trillion ton-miles. Sources: AAR Analysis of FRA Casualty Database for Rail Ton-Miles in 2006 from RR Facts, 2007., p. 27, 32. USDOT, FMCSA, Large Truck Crash Facts, 2006, Table 15, (p. 22) Tractor-trailer net ton-miles in 2002 estimated at 1.14 trillion from 2002 USDOC,Vehicle Inventory & Use Survey (VIUS), updated to 2006 based on VMT from Large Truck Crash Facts Table 13. 5,4192,942 56,000 48,000
Railroads incurred 17 fatalities in the last 10 years due to hazmat while trucks incurred 124. Source: USDOT, Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Hazardous Materials Incidents by Year & Mode, from for 1998 through 2007, as of 6/11/2008.
Railroads now have less than 5% of the hazmat incidents that trucks have, despite roughly equal hazmat ton-mileage. Sources: USDOT, Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Hazardous Materials Incidents By Year & Mode, from for 1998 through /11/2008 In 2005, the truck and rail modes hauled about the same number of hazmat net ton-miles, estimated at 114 billion for trucks and 111 billion for rail. USDOC, 2002 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS), Table 1a, for truck hazmat ton-miles, updated using combination truck VMT from FHWA Highway Statistics,Table VM-1. STB Waybill Sample for rail ton-miles.
Railroads now have 21% of the serious hazmat incidents that trucks have, despite roughly equal hazmat ton-mileage. Sources: USDOT, Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Hazardous Materials Incidents by Year & Mode, from as of 6/11/2008. PHMSA’s new definition defines serious incidents as those involving a fatality or serious injury due to a hazmat release or evacuation of 25 or more people as the result of a hazmat release or fire. In 2005, the truck and rail modes hauled about the same number of hazmat net ton-miles, estimated at 114 billion for trucks and 111 billion for rail. USDOC, 2002 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS), Table 1a, for truck hazmat ton-miles, updated using combination truck VMT from FHWA Highway Statistics,Table VM-1. STB Waybill Sample. (New definition of “Serious”)
Railroads now have less than 18% of the hazmat accidents that trucks have, despite roughly equal hazmat ton-mileage. Sources: USDOT, Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Hazardous Materials Incidents by Year & Mode, from 6/11/2008 In 2005, the truck and rail modes hauled about the same number of hazmat net ton-miles, estimated at 114 billion for trucks and 111 billion for rail. USDOC, 2002 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS), Table 1a, for truck hazmat ton-miles, updated using combination truck VMT from FHWA Highway Statistics,Table VM-1. STB Waybill Sample for rail ton-miles.
Technological Improvements to Railroad Safety: Track & Equipment Improved Track Rail steels Welded rail Fasteners Detection of flaws, weak spots Improved Equipment Heat treated curved plate wheels Hot box detectors, roller bearings, acoustic detection systems Air brake control valves & air brake tests Advanced Technology Safety Initiative (ATSI), to identify and repair high impact wheels & other flaws.
Over 3.6 years, ATSI has prevented an estimated 160 broken rail and broken wheel accidents on main track. Sources: AAR Analysis of FRA Train Accident and Train-Mile Data, , All U.S. Railroads. “Before” Period (Pre-ATSI) “After” Period (ATSI) Main Track Accidents per Million Freight Train Miles Without ATSI (Estimate) With ATSI (Actual)
Technological Improvements to Railroad Safety: Tank Cars and SNF Head shields and shelf couplers Thermal insulation Bottom outlet protection Enhanced safety requirements of hazmat tank cars >263,000 lbs or carrying environmentally sensitive chemicals Enhanced standard for cars carrying spent nuclear fuel and high level radioactive waste. A new performance standard for TIH tank cars.
Railroad Industry Safety Programs: Hazardous Materials AAR North American Non-Accident Release (NAR) Program Transportation & Community Awareness & Emergency Response (TRANSCAER) ACC Responsible Care Operation Respond TTCI's Emergency Response Training Center TTCI's BOE Hazmat Inspections TTCI's BOE Hazmat Safety Information
Railroad Industry Safety Programs: Operations, Training, Crossings Individual Railroad Employee Safety Programs Crew Resource Management (CRM) Peer Observation Programs Fatigue Countermeasures Remote Control Operations Locomotive Simulators Interactive Video Individual Training Operation Lifesaver Grade Crossing Upgrade (Section 130) Program
Railroad Security After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the AAR & its member railroads voluntarily conducted a comprehensive risk assessment and implemented a security action plan with four alert levels. The Security Plan encompasses over 1,300 critical facilities (tunnels, bridges, yards, dispatch centers, etc.) over a 142,000-mile nationwide rail network. Execution of the Security Plan depends on timely receipt of threat & warning information from the federal govt. Former DHS Secretary Ridge cited this plan as a model for other U.S. industries.
Railroad Security: Countermeasures include: Employee and customer awareness and training: e.g. to thwart terrorist intelligence gathering, facilitate warning & recovery. Sharing of Intelligence on Threats: –AAR Operations Center (24/7) collects, evaluates, and disseminates information to railroads thru the Railway Alert Network (RAN) –The Surface Transportation Information Sharing & Analysis Center (ST- ISAC) collects, analyzes, and disseminates information on physical and cyber-security threats to providers and users of surface transportation. Vetting employees & contractors. Controlling access to critical facilities and shipment info. Special operating measures to safeguard hazmat. Securing communications and data and ensuring message integrity and best IT practices.
Since 1980, U.S. Class I railroads have spent $396 billion on track and equipment. Sources: AAR, Analysis of Class I Railroads, , based on R-1 Reports submitted by each Class I railroad to the ICC/STB. Equipment: Lines Track: Lines Note: Current year dollars. Capital Expenditures and Maintenance Expenses, Minus Depreciation, in Billions of Dollars Track & Structures Equipment
Since 1991, U.S. Class I railroads have accelerated capital spending on new rail. Source: R-1 Reports submitted by each Class I railroad to the ICC/STB, Schedule 330, line 8, column e; Schedule 410, lines 1, 14, and 15, column h. Billions of Current Dollars Capital Expenditures on Rail Operating Expenses for Rail & Other Track Material
In the last 10 years, U.S. Class I railroads have laid 5.9 million tons of new rail. Note: Includes new rail laid in replacement and in addition, excludes relay rail. Sources: AAR, Analysis of Class I Railroads, 1980 – 2007, Lines , based on R-1 Reports submitted by each Class I railroad to the ICC/STB. Million Tons of New Rail Laid