U.S. rail accidents/incidents continue to decline

In this year’s first seven months, 743 large and small U.S. railroads reported 6,229 accidents and incidents, down 7.3% from the same period in 2010, according to the Federal Railroad Administration’s Office of Safety Analysis.

Rail-related fatalities declined 3.5% to 415 in the 2011 period. There were 12 employee fatalities, compared with 13 in the year-ago period. Trespasserfatalities declined 6.5% to 2456, while grade-crossing fatalities increased4.1% to 151.

The number of collisions increased 23.1% to 98 in January-July this year; derailments were up 3.6% to 834; and yard accidents declined 0.7% to 609.