Train accidents during maintenance work a growing concern
“A small oversight can have deadly consequences”
Recent railroadaccidents caused by employees doing routine repair work killed one person and endangered dozens of passengers and workers, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which has issued four recommendations intended to address the problem.
A February, 2012 collision between an Amtrak train and a car at a highway-rail crossing in Illinois occurred while two Union Pacific employees were working on the grade crossing warning system. Preliminary information resulting from the NTSB’s investigation indicates that the highway-rail grade crossing warning system had been temporarily removed from service for testing, inspection and maintenance. The warning system did not activate as the train approached the crossing. The car’s driver was killed in the accident.