WASHINGTON — Serious rule violations on Amtrak have dropped by a third since the Federal Railroad Administration placed the railroad under a safety watch in April, and the agency says it is pleased with Amtrak’s response thus far, according to Trains.com.
A spike in serious rules violations during April was one factor that prompted the FRA to impose the safety watch. The FRA began increasing its scrutiny of Amtrak in February, when the railroad announced maintenance cutbacks and other changes as part of a cost-cutting plan.
The FRA has said that its inspectors have found no evidence that Amtrak’s maintenance reductions have cut corners on safety-related repairs. No major accidents or injuries to passengers have been blamed on Amtrak error, either.
But in April Amtrak recorded a near-record 21 serious rules violations, which include infractions such as running through red signals. In May, after the railroad launched a safety blitz, serious violations fell to 14, Amtrak spokesman Bill Schulz said.
“We did a very comprehensive safety blitz in May in the transportation department,” Schulz said. “Field supervisors conducted nearly 8200 efficiency tests on nearly 2400 engineers, conductors and others in 17 safety-critical areas.”
The blitz was conducted throughout Amtrak’s 22,000-mile system. This month it is shifting its focus to mechanical department personnel, and will conclude next month with the engineering department.
“Certainly you’d hope you never have a violation,” Schulz said. “But frankly we have had on the order of 160 some-odd violations per year in the last couple years, and you always want to do better by reducing that number.”
Amtrak has done that. So far in fiscal year 2002, which began October 1, there have been 99 reportable incidents, Schulz said. The figure stood at 102 for the same period in 2001-2002, and 110 in fiscal year 2000, he said.
“We are pleased thus far with Amtrak’s response to the safety watch,” FRA spokesman Warren Flatau said. “All indications are that they have been observing heightened safety awareness, reinforcing sound operating practices where necessary, and ensuring that infrastructure and mechanical inspections and repairs are being undertaken in a timely matter.”
The FRA, he said, hasn’t seen anything to warrant additional cause for concern. Nonetheless, the safety watch will continue indefinitely due to Amtrak’s precarious financial situation, Flatau said. The agency remains concerned that the railroad’s financial problems could lead to safety problems.
Stephen Strachan, Amtrak’s vice president and chief transportation officer, tomorrow will discuss the railroad’s improving safety figures during an appearance before the House railroad subcommittee.
Rep. Jack Quinn, the New York Republican who chairs the panel, scheduled the rail safety hearing last month in the wake of several high-profile wrecks, including the April Auto Train derailment that killed four passengers in Florida.
Others scheduled to appear before the subcommittee include FRA Administrator Allan Rutter; National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Marion Blakey; fatigue expert Dr. Martin Moore-Ede of Cambridge, Mass.-based Circadian Technologies; Association of American Railroads President Ed Hamberger; and Dan Pickett, president of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen.