WASHINGTON, D.C. — The number of train derailments grew by more than a quarter during the last five years, and the head of the National Transportation Safety Board called Thursday for more frequent and more detailed inspections, a wire service reported.
Derailments rose from 1, 741 in 1997 to 2, 206 in 2001, a jump of 27 percent, Federal Railroad Administration statistics show. In January, one person died when a Canadian Pacific Railway freight train derailed in Minot, N.D. and released more than 250, 000 gallons of anhydrous ammonia.
Safety board Chairwoman Marion Blakey told the House Transportation railroads subcommittee that the Federal Railroad Administration needs to increase track inspections. She also called for new technologies in performing the work.
Federal Railroad Administrator Allan Rutter acknowledged the rise in derailments, but said the agency is working to address the problem. There had been just 400 federal and 150 agency-trained state inspectors to oversee how well the railroads inspected 230, 000 miles of track, but the Federal Railroad Administration is adding 12 track inspectors this year and plans to add another 12 next year, Rutter said.
In addition, many derailments occurred in train yards, far from the main lines that carry freight and passenger traffic, he said.
The House subcommittee called the hearing following several recent train accidents. Besides the chemical spill in Minot and the Auto Train derailment in Florida, a freight train and commuter train collided in Placentia, Calif., in April, killing two people; and two trains derailed last month after colliding with trucks. Eight cars of a freight train derailed in Indiantown, Fla., and 10 cars of an Amtrak train derailed in Coosawhatchie, S.C., injuring 14 people.
” These recent accidents, while tragic, do not represent a trend, ” Rutter said. ” Progress has been made and will continue to be made in improving the safety of America’ s railroad industry.”
Two passengers were killed in train collisions and derailments between 1997 and 2001, and another 13 in grade crossing accidents, out of 2.3 billion passengers riding the rails, Rutter said.
Edward Hamberger, president of the Association of American Railroads, an industry group, said accidents overall have been dropping. Even as derailments rose, government statistics show, railroad accidents and incidents declined by 3.6 percent between 1998 and 2001, from 16, 503 to 15, 908.
” Railroads recognize their responsibilities regarding safety and have devoted enormous resources to its advancement, ” Hamberger said.