RAILROAD PASSENGER EQUIPMENT SAFETY. A REPORT TO CONGRESS

This Report presents the results of the Federal Railroad Administration's comprehensive examination of railroad passenger safety in response to section 702 of the Rail Safety and Service Improvement Act of 1982. Rail passenger service in the United States has compiled a superior safety record that can be attributed to the rail industry's operational and safety practices as well as the effect of FRA's extensive safety regulations. To enhance that record, FRA is undertaking several rail passenger safety initiatives: (1) Consistent with a Congressional mandate, FRA is issuing a final rule extending its Track Safety Standards to include all track used exclusively for rail commuter service; (2) To ensure continued inspection and testing of passenger car brakes, FRA is amending its Power Brake Standards, which refer to industry rules that have been cancelled; (3) FRA is issuing guidelines consistent with those developed by the Urban Mass Transportation Administration on the flammability and smoke emission characteristics of materials used in the construction of rail passenger equipment; (4) FRA will convene a Special Safety Inquiry to assess the potential impact of technological changes in passenger equipment components, such as wheels, axles, bearings, and brakes. (5) FRA will sponsor an industry-wide review of emergency procedures by passenger service providers to ensure that adequate measures for emergency preparedness are in use throughout the systems within its jurisdiction. FRA is confident that its comprehensive review of rail passenger safety and the resulting initiatives described in this Report will contribute to maintaining the rail industry's excellent passenger safety record.

• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Safety, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Publication Date: 1984-1

Media Info

• Features: Appendices;
• Pagination: v.p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Brakes; Disasters and emergency operations; Flammability; Passenger cars; Railroad commuter service; Railroad tracks; Safety; Standards
• Identifier Terms: U.S. Federal Railroad Administration
• Uncontrolled Terms: Emergency procedures; Safety standards
• Old TRIS Terms: Brake systems; Track standards; Track structures
• Subject Areas: Public Transportation; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00387682
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 30 1984 12:00AM