Total accidents and incidents declined 9.6% to 6,404, and in the key areas of train operations the improvement was even more pronounced. Train accidents dropped 16.5% to 1,413 compared with the same period in 2011. The number of collisions dropped 15.4% to 121, while derailments were down 14.3% to 1,040. Yard accidents were off 13.4% to 806. There were 15 employee fatalities compared with 20 in the 2012 period.

However, rail-related fatalities, covering areas for which the railroads are not directly responsible, saw an increase of 3.2% to 607. Trespasser fatalities increased 9.2% to 380. Fatalities at highway-railroad grade crossings totaled 195, an improvement of 8.0% from 2012.