“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