![]() This Administration believes that all workers deserved paid sick leave. Some carriers are in the process of doing this. This doesn’t have to wait for national negotiations-companies can come to terms individually with their labor unions. A healthy and well-supported workforce is a safer workforce. USDOT is also pursuing further requirements in this area, but railroads should not wait. Provide proactive advance notification to state emergency response teams when they are transporting hazardous gas tank cars through their states instead of expecting first responders to look up this information after an incident occurs.Expedite the phase-in of safer (DOT 117) tank cars in advance of the Congressionally mandated 2029 deadline.We need both to keep our nation’s railroads safe. Recent waiver requests around technology like Automated Track Inspection (ATI) have been framed by industry to set up a false choice between technology and human oversight. The removal of human inspections has been a top priority for the rail lobbyists. Deploy new inspection technologies without seeking permission to abandon human inspections.To date Amtrak, many commuter rail and short line companies are part of this program, but not a single Class I railroad participates. This program allows railroads and their employees to report unsafe events and conditions without fear of negative consequences from the FRA or reprisal from their employers. Protect workers who spot safety issues from reprisal, by joining FRA’s Confidential Close Call Reporting Program.We are calling on Norfolk Southern and the entire freight railroad industry to act immediately to: "We at USDOT are doing everything in our power to improve rail safety, and we insist that the rail industry do the same – while inviting Congress to work with us to raise the bar." "Profit and expediency must never outweigh the safety of the American people," said U.S. And rail companies must also take urgent, dedicated action that includes not just complying with current standards but decisively putting the long-term safety of workers and communities ahead of short-term opportunities to supercharge profits. Achieving the highest level of rail safety will also require active and continued partnership from Congress. USDOT is committed to using the full range of our authority, as well as the funding available to us from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to improve safety on our railroads. The Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine-which upended the lives of residents and raised fears in communities across the country that sit on or near freight rail lines-only underscores the urgency of making further progress on this issue. And according to the chair of the Surface Transportation Board, since 2016, Class 1 railroads have cut their workforce by almost 30 percent. Instead, in the intervening years the railroad industry has actively lobbied Congress to roll back or weaken some of these rules. Committing to greater safety requires investing in human and physical infrastructure. But today, there are still over a thousand derailments every year-proof that the freight rail industry can and must do more. Since those changes, there has been real improvement derailments decreased by 15%, and lives were certainly saved. Those events led to the passage of significant new rail safety rules-over strong opposition from industry. and Canada, including one that left nearly 50 people dead. ![]() In the early 2010s we saw a number of high-profile freight rail incidents across the U.S. That means ensuring each and every day that the freight rail industry is living up to their obligations to keep communities and workers safe funding infrastructure projects to improve our nation’s rail network and working with Congress to advance regulation in areas that need it. Our rail system must be kept safe-safe for the workers who operate it, and for the communities that rely on it. Look for additional trains on adjacent tracks.For well over a century, railroads have been an indispensable part of America’s economy, society, and way of life. Multiple tracks may mean multiple trains. Trains are closer and faster than they appear. WAIT, LOOK BOTH WAYSĪlways expect a train. Observe signs, signals and pavement markings. ![]() CROSS LEGALLY AND SAFELYĬross only at designated crossings. High voltage electrical power can run underground on a third rail or above trains. Never walk next to or in between the rails. Listen and watch for pedestrian and traffic signals. Remain alert for oncoming trains on station platforms and while driving or walking. If you drop an item on the tracks, do not attempt to retrieve it. Never run or ride scooters, skateboards or bicycles in a station. Stand back from the platform, behind the painted or raised markings. Six things to know about light rail and commuter train safety: 1. ![]()
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