Delivered With Care

From the chlorine used to purify drinking water to the car in your garage, America’s freight railroads transport some of the most important products in our economy, and have invested billions of dollars to ensure that they are transported safely. Thanks in part to these investments, railroads’ train accident rate has dropped by 79 percent since 1980. But America’s freight railroads strive for even greater achievement and are committed to making freight rail safer than ever before. From developing innovative safety technologies to improving operating practices and engaging community leaders, freight railroads are working to realize an accident-free future on America’s rails.

Nothing has been more important to improving freight rail safety than the industry-wide investments to modernize and improve America’s freight rail network. Between 2008 and 2013, during the height of the recession and the slow recovery, Class I freight railroads spent more than ever before: nearly $68 billion in capital expenditures and another $68 billion on maintenance. In fact, since 1980, railroads have spent $550 billion upgrading and enhancing America’s freight rail network, spending that has helped to drastically reduce the rate of train accidents and derailments. And railroads will continue to invest—with a record $26 billion planned for 2014—using private funds to ensure that these safety achievements continue.

At the industry’s world-class rail research facility, the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI), research and development of advanced safety technologies is moving the industry toward an even safer future. TTCI’s pioneering technologies have already helped to bring the rate of track-caused accidents to an all-time record low. The rail industry is also currently in the process of implementing the largest and most technologically-advanced safety system ever built. When complete, positive train control will monitor trains—both freight and passenger—and allow the system to override the operator, reducing the risk of accidents caused by human error. Finally, freight railroads have led the charge to ensure that commodities are moved in rail cars built to the most stringent design and construction standards. Recently, railroads proposed enhanced regulations for tank cars—the vast majority of which are not owned by railroads themselves—and advocated that older tank cars be retrofitted to meet the new standards or phased out of use.

See how TTCI helps advance safety for America’s freight railroads.

When it comes to operations, safety is top of mind, which is why railroads move each and every car under strict operating rules developed in coordination with government officials. Routes, train speeds, inspections, real-time tracking of cars, and training requirements are all considered part of the rail safety equation. At the same time, railroads have partnered with the federal government to develop an advanced statistical routing model designed to aid railroads in analyzing and identifying the safest and most secure routes for the transportation of hazardous materials.

The industry’s commitment to safety also extends far beyond the 140,000 mile rail network into the communities railroads serve. Because railroads and people often intersect at highway-rail grade crossings, the industry invests $200 million each year alone to maintain lights and gates at grade crossings and many millions more on programs and initiatives related to grade crossing safety. Recently, freight railroads partnered with Operation Lifesaver, the Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal Transit Administration to launch a nationwide public education campaign—See Tracks? Think Train!—to raise awareness about risky pedestrian and driver behavior around railroad tracks. Railroads also work closely with community leaders and emergency response personnel across the country, training more than 20,000 first responders each year on how to respond if an accident does occur.

Every year, railroads transport billions of tons of products that are vital to sustaining our modern way of life. It is a responsibility railroads assume with the utmost seriousness and care. From investing billions of dollars each year to improve the safety of rail infrastructure, to implementing safety standards that exceed those mandated by the federal government, freight railroads are striving toward an accident-free future while meeting our nation’s transportation needs.