(The Associated Press circulated the following article on October 20.)
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has ordered all railroad companies to improve manual track switching procedures by Nov. 22 or be liable for civil penalties up to $27,000, the Transportation Department said Wednesday.
Hand-operated track switches left in the wrong position have caused nine serious train crashes since January, the agency said. Ten people died and more than 600 were injured in these crashes, which occurred when trains traveled on the wrong tracks, derailed or collided with locomotives or rail cars.
”There is absolutely no excuse for a switch to be left in the wrong position,” said FRA Administrator Joseph H. Boardman in a statement. ”This dangerous, preventable and increasingly frequent situation must stop, starting now.”
The order requires railroad companies to retrain and periodically test employees on switch operating procedures, require workers to provide written documentation when a hand-operated switch is changed, Additionally, locomotive engineers must confirm the switches are set correctly before operating the trains.
”Railroads must put an end to these avoidable and deadly mistakes,” Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said in a statement.