Railway companies and whistleblowersA railway accident that killed two crew members and a passenger ferry accident that injured dozens of passengers and crew members will be on the agenda at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Board meeting on April 24th.

The Board will determine the probable cause of the 2010 collision of the passenger ferry the Andrew Barberi with the St. George Terminal, Staten Island, New York, and another collision involving two BNSF Railway trains in Red Oak, Iowa. The Board will also consider proposed safety recommendations to prevent similar accidents from occurring again.

In the April 17, 2011 railway incident, a BNSF Railway coal train collided with the rear end of a standing BNSF Railway maintenance-of-the-way equipment train near Red Oak, Iowa.  The accident resulted in the derailment of two locomotives and 12 cars.  Both crewmembers on the striking train were fatally injured.

The New York ferry collision shortly before the 244 passengers, were scheduled to disembark at slip No. 5 at the Staten Island terminal. As a result of the accident, three passengers were seriously injured and more than 40 passengers and crew reported minor injuries.   

The meeting will take place in the NTSB Board Room and Conference Center, 429 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC.