The head of the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) promised to be aggressive in urging railroad companies to install newly mandated safety systems as soon as possible, even though Congress moved the deadline back to 2018. The safety system is called Positive Train Control or PTC, and was supposed to be operating nationwide by the end of 2015. Its widespread use […]
FRA Pushes for Fast Upgrades to Train Safety Systems
Families of Canada Train Derailment Victims Sue Railroad
A lawyer who represents most of the families of the 47 people who died in an oil train derailment in Quebec two years ago said last week that a Canadian railroad’s refusal to pay into a settlement fund is ‘reprehensible,’ and the families will sue the railroad. Canadian Pacific states that it does not have any responsibility for the disastrous, […]
Congress Passes Bill To Delay Train Safety Upgrades
After the deadly Amtrak wreck in Philadelphia earlier this year that killed five, some lawmakers wanted to see a speed enforcement system implemented right away. However, this week Congress passed a bill that will delay mandates for railroads to add such safety upgrades. After the derailing in May, the CEO of Amtrak pledged to make the safety upgrades by the […]
Broken Rail Led to WV Oil Train Derailment, Officials State
By Randy Appleton, Virginia Railroad Accident Attorney A West Virginia crude oil train derailment in February 2015 that caused a fire and forced several hundred people to leave their homes was due to a split rail, according to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) last week. Two CSX rail inspections in December 2014 and January 2015 did not detect the defect […]
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. […]