Federal, state and county authorities across the US have in recent weeks launched a new public safety campaign called “See Tracks? Think Train!” The new campaign urges pedestrians and drivers in all states to stay away from tracks to avoid serious injury or death. One man who was hit by a train in 2012 has…
The city of Charlottesville, Virginia (VA) is planning to build a new fence on the western side of the railroad tracks that run through the town between 14th Street and Rugby Road. The fence was first planned in 2010, and is finally going to be completed by October 2014. The purpose of the fence is…
New rail safety laws would mandate that all US railroads have to meet a 2015 deadline for adding on positive train control, and also other upgrades, such as new cameras and warning indicators, according to an announcement from Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Schumer and a panel of transit experts recommended the new federal rules after…
Given the choice to arrive somewhere safely but a few minutes late or on time and injured, most people would choose to be a few minutes late. A panel convened by New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority says Metro-North Railroad has sacrificed safety for on-time performance. The railroad has had a number of recent accidents including…
It was a pleasant evening in July 2013, when the Canadian town of Lac-Megantic suddenly became a war zone. Forty-two people were confirmed dead, with five more missing and presumed dead. More than 30 buildings in the town’s center, roughly half of the downtown area, were destroyed. Investigators have released the Quebec railroad accident safety…