FRA Safety Advisory: ‘Train Length a Critical Factor’
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefThe Federal Railroad Administration on April 27 issued Safety Advisory 2023-03, Accident Mitigation and Train Length, “to increase awareness of the potential complexities associated with operating longer trains, and push railroads to take appropriate measures to address those complexities to ensure safety.” Building on FRA Safety Advisory 2023-02 (issued April 10), which was focused primarily on train makeup, the new notice “also makes clear that train length, just like train makeup, is a critical factor to consider when building any train,” FRA said.
Safety Advisory 2023-03 cites three incidents involving trains with more than 200 cars, a length of 12,250 feet or more, and a weight of more than 17,000 trailing tons—Springfield, Ohio, March 4, 2023 (Norfolk Southern); Ravenna, Ohio, Nov. 1, 2022 (NS); and Rockwell, Iowa, March 24, 2022 (Union Pacific). Its eight recommendations include “proactive steps to prevent future accidents, such as identifying changes to crew training; train handling procedures; train makeup; distributed power unit (DPU) requirements; limitations to length or tonnage; speed restrictions; track, mechanical, and brake inspection; and maintenance requirements necessary to ensure safe operations of longer trains. Also included are recommendations that railroads use due diligence and provide complete data and detailed information after an incident occurs to understand the factors leading to and the consequences of an accident.”
Additionally, FRA highlighted “numerous potential safety risks associated with blocked crossings, particularly how a stopped train or long train can impede the ability of first responders to assist individuals in need.”
FRA noted this version of the Safety Advisory (downloadable below) “is not intended to constitute the official published notice. This version was submitted for publication on April 27, 2023, and the official notice will be published in the Federal Register in the near future. The published version may appear slightly different than this one, due to formatting requirements and non-substantive editorial changes.”
Editor’s Comment: Interestingly, while FRA Associate Administrator for Safety and Chief Safety Officer Karl Alexy signed Safety Advisory 2023-02, Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose signed 2023-03. According to one experienced railroader well-versed in Safety Advisories, it is highly unusual for the Administrator, rather than a member of FRA’s professional staff, to sign and issue one. – William C. Vantuono
