Officers from Fairfax County (VA) Police and the Norfolk Southern Railroad Police have been cracking down on people who illegally walk across railroad tracks Northern Virginia. The Norfolk Southern Police are in the midst of a year-long Trespass Abatement Program and are focusing their efforts on five areas in Fairfax County in recent days. That is due to the high […]
Northern Virginia Law Enforcement Increasing Train Track Safety Awareness
More Time Needed for New Train Safety Technology: Federal Report
By Randy Appleton, Virginia Railroad Accident Attorney A new report issued by the Government Accountability Office this week states that Congress should allow more time for freight and passenger trains to install new technology that could prevent deadly train derailings, such as the Amtrak mishap last May that killed eight people. Congress established a Dec. 31 deadline for rail companies […]
Railroad Track Was Set for Replacement Day After VA Derailment
By Richard Shapiro, Virginia Railroad Accident Attorney A section of railroad track that was owned by CSX in Lynchburg, Virginia (VA) was set to be replaced – the day after a crude oil trail derailed and broke out in flames. The National Transportation Safety Board issued this report in late August into the derailment, which occurred on April 30, 2014. […]
Amtrak Train Smashes Truck, Driver Uninjured
By Richard Shapiro, Railroad Accident Attorney A box truck driver jumped to safety just seconds before an Amtrak train slammed into his vehicle in San Diego CA on Aug. 31. The wreck happened in San Diego near the intersection of West Washington and Pacific Highway. The box truck had part of its cargo bay over the tracks at the time. […]
Most Railroads Won’t Meet Deadline For New Safety Technology
By Richard Shapiro, Railroad Accident Attorney Only a few railroads will come close to meeting a new federal deadline to install new safety technology that may prevent some crashes. Some of those crashes include derailments due to excessive speed, such as the deadly Amtrak wreck in Philadelphia last May. Just three railroads have turned in their safety plans to the […]