RAILROAD ACCIDENT REPORT: COLLISION OF TWO CONSOLIDATED RAILROAD CORPORATION COMMUTER TRAINS, NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT, JULY 13, 1976

About 6:28 p.m., on July 13, 1976, Conrail commuter train No. 1994 collided with the rear of commuter train No. 1992 which was standing on the main track in New Canaan, Connecticut. The first car of No. 1994 and several cars of No. 1992 derailed. Two passengers were killed and 30 persons were injured. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the engineer of train No. 1994 to perceive the train ahead and to apply the brakes at the earliest possible time. Contributing to the accident was the excessive speed of the train as it passed the controlling signal at Cane and the inadequacy of the signal system to convey to the engineer the situation ahead and to insure compliance with the indications of the signals. During the investigation of this accident, the National Transportation Safety Board issued two recommendations concerning the signal system to the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority concerning the operation of exit doors. A recommendation on eliminating unsafe conditions in the cars' interiors was reiterated and a recommendation to the FRA to promulgate regulations on the operation and construction of commuter cars was issued.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Transportation Safety Board

  Bureau of Accident Investigation, 800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20594
• Publication Date: 1977-5-19

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures;
• Pagination: 23 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Casualties; Commuter cars; Crash investigation; Crashes; Door handles; Fatalities; Human factors; Multiple unit cars; Operating rules; Passenger cars; Passengers; Signaling; Transportation safety; Vehicle design
• Identifier Terms: Conrail
• Uncontrolled Terms: Passenger safety
• Geographic Terms: Connecticut
• Old TRIS Terms: Door operating mechanisms; Passenger car design; Signal recognition
• Subject Areas: Design; Passenger Transportation; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00157701
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Transportation Safety Board
• Report/Paper Numbers: NTSB-RAR-77-4
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 15 1977 12:00AM