NTSB Advisory
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

STATEMENT FROM CHAIRMAN JIM HALL
June 4, 1998

Because high-speed trains will be introduced to the United States in 1999, the National Transportation Safety Board is very interested in the recent tragic train accident in Eschede, Germany.

The Safety Board has contacted the State Department, requesting permission from the German government to participate as official observers and offering our assistance. The Safety Board looks forward to having investigators on-scene by the first of next week. It is the Board’s hope that we may learn vital lessons from yesterday’s tragedy that will make rail transportation safer for all.

Crashworthiness of train cars has been a long-standing priority of the Safety Board. The Board has made numerous recommendations concerning crashworthiness standards to the Federal Railroad Administration. The Safety Board was pleased with the FRA’s recent response to these recommendations and removed them from its "Most Wanted" list of safety improvements earlier this year.

Media contact: Shelly Hazle (202) 314-6100

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