We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
  • INDUSTRY PRESS ROOM
  • SUBMISSIONS
  • MEDIA FILE
  • Create Account
  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Newsletters
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • CSCMP EDGE 2022 Startup Alley
    • Upload your video
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • Reflections
      • SCQ Forum
    • Mobile Apps
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • CSCMP EDGE 2022 Startup Alley
    • Upload your video
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • Reflections
      • SCQ Forum
    • Mobile Apps
Home » FRA warns of dangers in handling extra-long trains

FRA warns of dangers in handling extra-long trains

Agency asks railroads to prevent the loss of communications among train crews, and to mitigate lengthy blocked crossings

railroad FRA Screen Shot 2023-04-28 at 3.31.58 PM.png
April 28, 2023
Ben Ames
No Comments

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today warned against the dangers of increasingly long freight trains and their impacts on safe operations and intersections with roads.

In a notice to rail operators, the DOT’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) noted that freight train length has increased in recent years, and asked railroads to address the issue to ensure the safe operation of such trains.

“This Safety Advisory recommends that railroads review their operating rules and existing locomotive engineer certification programs to address operational complexities of train length, take appropriate action to prevent the loss of communications between end-of-train devices, and mitigate the impacts of long trains on blocked crossings,” the FRA notice said.

The notice is the latest action to come from courts, regulators, and lawmakers since a Norfolk Southern Co. train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 3, spilling noxious chemicals from ruptured tank cars. Several lawsuits and pending Congressional bills have since proposed stricter safety regulations and fines on the company to ensure the environmental cleanup and safety of local residents.

It also follows a long-running negotiation between railroad companies and workers’ unions involving employee working conditions, health and safety allowances, schedule flexibility, and minimum size of train crews. That contentious discussion nearly led to a strike in 2022, but Congress passed a bill imposing an agreement brokered by the Biden administration.

The latest FRA report did not cite those incidents, but referenced three events occurring since 2022 that are believed to have been caused, or contributed to, by the train handling and makeup. Those incidents—in Springfield, Ohio; Ravenna, Ohio; and Rockwell, Iowa—each involved a train with more than 200 cars and a length of 12,250 feet or longer.

FRA believes these incidents demonstrate the need for railroads and their employees to be particularly mindful of the complexities of operating longer trains. Specifically, the agency flagged challenges in: (1) train makeup and handling; (2) railroad braking and train handling rules, policies, and procedures; (3) protecting against the loss of end-of-train (EOT) device communications; and (4) where applicable, protecting against the loss of radio communications among crew members

 

 

 

Rail
KEYWORDS Federal Railroad Administration
    • Related Articles

      Economist warns of moderate recession in 2020

      The dangers of focusing only on the supply chain's last mile

      FRA revives “crew redundancy” requirement for train staffing

    Ben Ames is Editor at Large and a Senior Editor at Supply Chain Quarterly?s sister publication, DC Velocity.

    Recent Articles by Ben Ames

    USPS to skip rate hike this winter peak season

    J.B. Hunt buys brokerage operations of BNSF Logistics

    GXO buys e-commerce 3PL PFSweb for $181 million

    You must login or register in order to post a comment.

    Report Abusive Comment

    Most Popular Articles

    • Positive drug tests in U.S. workforce rise to 20-year high as marijuana is legalized

    • Wabash opens trailer manufacturing facility in Indiana

    • Six defining challenges of omnichannel fulfillment

    • Postal advocacy group says “excessive” July 9 stamp price hike will hurt consumers

    • CPKC and CSX buy rail assets from Genesee & Wyoming

    Featured Video

    8757b894 244c 4429 b5d8 e6df7b479d82

    Penalties for Wood Packaging Material Violations

    Viewer Contributed
    Our Services Include: Customs Broker Denver Freight Forwarder Denver Global Logistics Denver Cargo Insurance Denver Customs Bond Denver Customs Clearance Denver Customs Duty Denver Isf Filing Denver More details: Phone : 281-445-9779 Email: info@gallaghertransport.com Website: gallaghertransport.com

    FEATURED WHITE PAPERS

    • Five questions to ask before electrifying your indoor forklift fleet

    • Operator assist system myths busted

    • Three layers of forklift safety: Promoting operating best practices

    • The Complete Guide to Automated Packaging

    View More

    Subscribe to Supply Chain Quarterly

    Get Your Subscription
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • E-NEWSLETTERS
    • ADVERTISING
    • CUSTOMER CARE
    • CONTACT
    • ABOUT
    • STAFF
    • PRIVACY POLICY

    Copyright ©2023. All Rights ReservedDesign, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing