1.0 Introduction and Methodology

Rail is one of the safest modes of transportation and the U.S. rail industry has made significant progress over the past several decades dramatically reducing collisions, cutting trespassing incidents, and improving workplace safety. However, fatalities and injuries from trespassing have reversed their long-term trends and increased over the past few years. Graffiti remains a problem on rail cars and structures. Railroads and governments at all levels are increasingly looking to deploy scarce resources into the most beneficial programs, from education campaigns to infrastructure improvements. This report reviews the various safety initiatives and proposals over the past few decades and gauges their effectiveness at improving safety. Recommendations based on this work inform industry leaders and policymakers on how to best craft policies and funding programs that continually improve railroad safety.

This research focuses on railroad safety, including incidents, injuries, and deaths related to the freight, commuter, and intercity passenger rail systems in the United States. That includes Class I, II and III freight railroads, and passenger railroads subject to Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regulation, including most commuter railroads and Amtrak. This report does not include urban rail transit, such as heavy rail/metro/subway or light rail/streetcar systems.

The goal of this report is for the reader to understand the current state of rail safety in the U.S. from a multi-dimensional perspective and steps that might be taken to improve it. First, we reviewed the current roles of federal, state, and local governments along with private and non-profit groups that also help to regulate and manage safety. Then we reviewed data from the FRA and existing literature to understand where and how safety has improved and what might be possible lessons learned and best practices to address safety concerns. Then we engaged with the project’s advisory panel and other experts to craft actionable and pragmatic policy recommendations for public and private railroad stakeholders.