MASS TRANSIT: INFORMATION ON SEPTA COMMUTER RAIL OPERATIONS

During 1984 the commuter railroad operations of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) had six train accidents involving passenger injuries. The other four rail commuter operations in the Northeast together had fewer accidents and SEPTA's 90,000 riders is the second smallest ridership among all these operators. According to SEPTA human error during adverse weather conditions was the most frequent cause of its accidents. During 1985 on its own SEPTA increased employee training, improved the condition of plant and equipment, and increased the monitoring of train operations. A SEPTA-sponsored study and another undertaken by FRA included recommendations for safety, training and other changes. UMTA provided funds for training enginemen over routes they had not previously operated and for training newly hired enginemen and conductors. GAO concludes that it appeared that SEPTA was working to improve system safety. SEPTA now has a separate management unit for commuter rail, is making capital improvements, and has increased training of enginemen and conductors. Most other recommendations of the two studies are in the process of being implemented or are under consideration by SEPTA management.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/summary.php?recflag=&rptno=RCED-86-46
• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. General Accounting Office

  441 G Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20548
• Publication Date: 1986-1

Media Info

• Pagination: 20 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash investigation; Disasters and emergency operations; Driver rehabilitation; Human factors; Maintenance of way; Management; Policy; Railroad commuter service; Safety; Training
• Identifier Terms: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
• Uncontrolled Terms: Emergency procedures; Rehabilitation
• Old TRIS Terms: Management policies
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Education and Training; Policy; Public Transportation; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00457372
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: GAO-RCED-86-46
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 27 2004 9:42PM