mudchicken wrote: tree68 wrote: On the other hand, train accidents in New York seem to have risen last year, according to this story.What I find disconcerting about this story from AP is their presentation of the information on accidents involving (and I quote) so called "trespassers". What did you expect from the so called mainstream media ?
tree68 wrote: On the other hand, train accidents in New York seem to have risen last year, according to this story.What I find disconcerting about this story from AP is their presentation of the information on accidents involving (and I quote) so called "trespassers".
On the other hand, train accidents in New York seem to have risen last year, according to this story.
What I find disconcerting about this story from AP is their presentation of the information on accidents involving (and I quote) so called "trespassers".
What did you expect from the so called mainstream media ?
So-called information and the so-called truth.
Yeah, right; like THAT's gonna happen!
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
"There were fewer accidents and deaths involving trains last year, but more railroad incidents involving hazardous materials. Last year, 486 people nationwide were killed after trespassing on railroad lines, compared with 518 deaths in 2006, according to preliminary data released by the Federal Railroad Administration. There were 339 fatalities involving trains and a vehicle, 30 fewer than in 2006. Incidents involving railroad cars that released hazardous materials jumped to 43 reports from 28 in 2006. More trains were carrying ethanol and relatively new technologies used to safely release ethanol, and that probably contributed to the increase, said Joseph Boardman, administrator of the railroad agency."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/us/05brfs-RAILROADDEAT_BRF.html?ref=us
03/04/2008 Train Accidents Decline for Third Consecutive Year, Other Rail Safety Data Improves Tuesday, March 04, 2008 (Washington, DC)
Train Accidents Decline for Third Consecutive Year, Other Rail Safety Data Improves
The number of train accidents across the Nation declined for the third consecutive year according to preliminary 2007 data released today by U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters. Our strong focus on improving rail safety is achieving significant results for three years running now," Secretary Peters said, noting there has been 833 fewer train accidents, or a 24.6 percent reduction when comparing the period from 2004 to 2007. Peters stressed that some of the safety gains are attributable to aggressive implementation of the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) National Rail Safety Action Plan first launched in May 2005. It focuses on the most frequent, highest-risk causes of train accidents; optimizes the use of data to target federal inspection and enforcement resources; and accelerates research initiatives that hold promise to mitigate the greatest potential safety risks, she explained. "We are targeting our safety activities on specific problem areas," said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman, highlighting that the two leading causes of train accidents--human error and track-have declined 28.8 percent and 15.7 percent, respectively since 2004. Comparing the preliminary full-year 2007 data to 2006, Peters stated that last year railroads had 406 fewer train accidents nationwide, or a 13.7 percent reduction. California (down 46), Texas (down 45), and New York (down 30) led the way among the 34 states that experienced reductions, she said. Also, last year the number of highway-rail grade crossing incidents fell by 6.9 percent and grade crossing fatalities decreased by 8.1 percent to 339. And, trespass fatalities, the number one cause of all rail-related deaths, decreased by 6.2 percent to 486. Boardman said that in 2007 the FRA added two new automated track inspection vehicles to its fleet enabling the agency to triple the number of track-miles inspected annually; announced approval of new Positive Train Control (PTC) technology for deployment in regular freight rail service, issued a proposed rule to encourage expanded use of safer Electronically Controlled Pneumatic (ECP) train braking systems, and undertook several wide-ranging grade crossing safety initiatives. Thus far in 2008, the FRA issued a final rule designed to reduce common operating practice mistakes that result in nearly half of all human factor-caused train accidents. And, this spring the FRA intends to issue a proposed rule to strengthen the design standards and structural integrity of rail tank cars that carry hazardous materials, Boardman emphasized. Peters praised the railroad industry with making an important contribution toward improved rail safety and for its continuing cooperation with FRA's safety program. http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/press-releases/177
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