1985 SAFETY ASSESSMENT SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (SEPTA)

After the occurrence of passenger and employee casualties and train accidents increased between 1983 and 1984, the Federal Railroad Administration undertook an investigation of safety on the railroad commuter lines of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority serving the Philadelphia region. SEPTA rail services had the highest passenger and employee casualty rates when compared with other Northeastern commuter operations of Boston and Maine, Long Island, Metro North, and New Jersey Transit. FRA identified inadequacies in training and testing; questionable and potentially dangerous operating practices; continued use of worn, antiquated and deteriorated equipment; and record and data deficiencies. Concerns with recommendations covered the following areas: (1) Employee safety program lacks necessary controls; (2) SEPTA does not have an adequate emergency response program; (3) SEPTA depends on Conrail for hazardous materials emergency response for lines jointly used; (4) Records required by Federal regulation often lacked information; (5) Productivity and performance data, while collected, are not organized to provide direction for testing and training programs; (6) Antiquated and deteriorated facilities adversely affect employee morale and personal safety; (7) Inadequate guidance and lack of access to best available information often mark passenger service disruptions; (8) New signal installations are placed in service with inadequate inspections; (9) Tests required by FRA signal rules are not properly performed within prescribed time intervals; (1) Correct and legible signal circuit diagrams are not always available.

• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Safety, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Publication Date: 1985-10

Media Info

• Features: Tables;
• Pagination: 242 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Casualties; Crash rates; Disasters and emergency operations; Maintenance practices; Railroad commuter service; Safety; Signaling; Training
• Identifier Terms: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
• Uncontrolled Terms: Emergency procedures
• Old TRIS Terms: Operating practices
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Maintenance and Preservation; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00455100
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 27 2004 9:33PM