Week 14: Operations: Rail Safety

Week 14: Operations: Rail Safety

Click here to view powerpoint presentation prepared by Dan Feltes

General Overview

Roughly 85% of rail employees in Operations Department (see Organization Chart below)
Safety and Freight claims is a typical division
Railroad travel is the safest mode (see Tables and Charts below)
Rail vs. Truck Comparison

Fig. 20-1. Condensed Organization Chart - Operating Department (Armstrong, p. 270)

Fig. 20-2. Annual Accident Summary - All U.S. Railroads (1st) (Armstrong, p. 272)

Fig. 20-2. Annual Accident Summary - All U.S. Railroads (2nd) (Armstrong, p. 272)

Fig. 20-2. Annual Accident Summary - All U.S. Railroads (3rd) (Armstrong, p. 273)

Terms

Train Accidents
- train wrecks involving significant damage to railroad rolling stock and track
- includes only railroad property losses (equipment and track), including loss and damage to:
  - lading
  - liability claims
  - disruption of operations
  - cost of clearing wrecks
- over a 15 year period (1979-1994) safety was improved markedly:
  - despite 70% increase in roadway and equipment costs, losses were reduced 43%
  - accidents were decreased 72%
  - track-caused derailments reduced from 4000 to 900
Train Incidents: train wrecks involving such casualty-producing eventualities as unanticipated severe slack run-ins or highway grade crossing accidents not resulting in a derailment
- account for about 90% of fatalities
  - over 50% due to highway grade crossing accidents
  - 35% involve trespassers
- attempts to reduce incidents include:
  - installation of gates, flashers, and other safety improvements
    - MUTCD images
    - TCDH images
  - Operation Lifesaver
Nontrain Incidents
- casualties from getting on or off, striking, or otherwise being injured in connection with operating or maintaining railroad rolling stock while the equipment is not moving
- 90% decrease, probably due to general elimination of cabooses
- account for more than 85% of employee injuries
- railroad injury rates have decreased about 50% in a 15 year period (1979-1994)
Freight claims
- ratio of loss and damage claims to freight revenue now about 0.3%-0.4%
Federal Employees Liability Act (FELA)
- compensatory and punitive damage amounts are unlimited
- Some FELA sites:
  - Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA) Frequently Asked Questions
  - International Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers

External Rail System Safety: Rail-Highway Grade Crossings

Rail Crossings must consider:
- approach grades
- sight distance
- drainage
- traffic volume
- train frequency
Grade separations are recommended for all mainline rail w/double tracks of >6 trains/day
Drainage can be a problem for highway underpasses
UPRR - Highway-Rail Crossing Facts
Federal Railroad Administration Information

Rail Safety Groups

Rail Crashes

Worst Crashes
- Modane, France - Dec. 17, 1917
  - Appr. 800 French troops perish
  - Brakes failed on an overloaded train returning from the WWI Italian front
- Samastipur, India - June 6, 1981
  - Estimates range as high as 3000 fatalities
  - Train seriously overcrowded
  - No official inquiry, thus few facts
- Nashville, TN - July 18, 1918
  - 101 casualties
Alton, IA - Nov. 17, 1999
Ames, IA - 1980s
Buckeye, IA - Nov. 6, 1999
Sites with more Train Wreck information: