 The
amount of rail traffic handled by our Nation’s railroads has
increased over 55 percent since the rail industry was deregulated
in 1980. Economic projections indicate that this growth will continue
for the foreseeable future. With this increase in rail traffic,
DOT seeks to lower the risk of rail-related accidents, leading to
fewer fatalities and injuries.
By 2006, reduce rail accidents and incidents per million
train miles by 20 percent from the 1999-2002 average (8.74 accidents
and incidents per million train-miles).
| Train accidents
and highway-rail incidents per million train-miles.
Target: 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
N/A N/A N/A N/A 7.90 7.62
Actual: 8.78 8.97 9.12 7.93#
|
# Preliminary estimate.
Railroad
train-miles have grown continuously each year since 1991, until
2001, when there was a 2 percent decrease from the previous year.
DOT resources attributable to this performance
goal are depicted below:
FRA regulates rail and highway grade crossing safety
to reduce crash risks between trains and road traffic. FRA analyzes
accidents, conducts research, and inspects maintenance procedures
and safety management programs to improve rail safety.
In 2004, FRA will:
• increase safety staffing (25 new positions)
to support DOT’s rail safety initiatives;
• purchase a new self-propelled track geometry
vehicle, similar to the T-2000 vehicle, that will allow FRA to inspect
30,000 additional track miles each year ($4.5 million);
• continue installing and operating the National
Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS), which began in FY
1998 ($6.8 million);
• continue safety-related Research and Development
projects, including projects in Rolling Stock and Components, Track
and Train Interaction, Track and Structures, and Railroad System
Issues ($12.6 million); and
• fund other current safety program efficiency
increases.
| Rail-related
fatalities per million train-miles.
Target: 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
1.57 1.30 1.23 1.20 1.15 1.14
Actual: 1.31 1.30 1.36(r) 1.40 |
Train accidents
per million train-miles.
Target: 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
3.44 3.44 3.35 4.00 4.00 3.99
Actual: 3.89 4.13 4.22(r) 3.56
Grade crossing accidents divided by the product
of million train-miles and trillion vehicle-miles traveled.
Target: 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
2.19 1.57 1.39 1.39 1.30 1.29
Actual: 1.83 1.76(r) 1.64(r) 1.54 |
r) Revised; # Preliminary estimate.
FRA along with the NTSB investigates railroad accidents and devise
and implement improved standards and practices for safe rail operations
and maintenance.
|
