Summary

The railroad industry has formed a task force to examine main line train collisions. Under the direction of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the working group also includes representatives from the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), the Association of American Railroads (AAR), the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE), the United Transportation Union (UTU), and the Volpe National Transportation System Center (VNTSC). This Collision Analysis Working Group (CAWG) held its initial meeting on July 17-18, 2002. The CAWG agreed to review the data available for forty-nine (49) incidents where human factor causes contributed to trains "exceeding their authority" by passing a stop signal; failing to comply with a signal requiring restricted speed; or by entering territory without a train order, track warrant, or direct traffic control authority. These forty-nine (49) main line train collisions occurred during a five-year period from January 1, 1997, through December 31, 2001, and resulted in 12 employee fatalities, 52 passenger and 97 employee injuries, with an estimated $53,957,000 in track, signal, and equipment damage. At the CAWG meeting in August 2003, the group decided to expand the database by adding qualifying collisions that had occurred during 2002. The decision was based on two factors. The first was to have as current a final report as possible and the second was to increase the size of the database. The CAWG review will provide the railroad industry with an opportunity to re-examine its safety practices and policies based on any commonalities found, which will help ensure that every reasonable precaution is being taken to prevent future collisions.

Selection Process

Member Addresses

CAWG Report