Starting in 2005 it became mandatory for locomotives and rail cars to be equipped with reflective material so as to be seen in the dark. However, railroads have up to ten years to retrofit all rail cars and locomotives with this safety measure.
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In 2007 passenger railroads carried 579,697,125 passengers. There were 4 passenger deaths and 775 injuries reported to the FRA.
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Only 23% of public grade crossings in the US have gates.
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Crossbucks, which safety signs with the words "railroad" and "crossing" in the shape of the letter X are to be treated the same as Yield signs when approached by drivers.
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In 2007 there were 292 highway grade crossing accidents that resulted in one or more fatalities.
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In 2007 there were 865 fatalities associated with the railroads, according to the FRA.
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In 2007 there were 43 derailments where HAZMATS were released.
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A freight train traveling at 55 mph can take over a mile to stop when the brakes are applied. A passenger train traveling 80mph requires one mile to stop.
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The US Department of Transportation states that grade crossings with crossing arms are 80-90% safer than crossings with passive warning devices like crossbucks and stop signs.
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In 2006, the seven Class I Freight Railroads carried 1.96 billion tons of goods and materials. This is a 3% increase over 2005.
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In 2007 there were 12,522 accidents/incidents on the railroads. 812 of which resulted in one or more fatalities.
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In 2006 revenues of the seven Class I Railroads increased by 11% to nearly $6.5 billion, according to the American Association of Railroads
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Today, there are fewer than 2,300 railway police officers in North America.
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The Amtrak Police Department currently has 342 sworn police officers with most of its security force in the Northeast Corridor.
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Hawaii is the only US state, currently without a rail grade crossing.
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Texas, Illinois, California, Kansas and Ohio are the top five states when it comes to number of rail grade crossings.
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There are approximately 154,000 public rail-grade crossings in the US. Nearly 2/3rds of these crossings do not have active warning devices like flashing lights and crossing arms.
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The total miles of rail in the US fell 41% between 1980 and the year 2000. This was a reduction of nearly 170,000 miles to bring the current system total to slightly under 200,000 miles.
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There are five times as many people who travel by train as compared to those who use airplanes. But since September 11th, the United States has spent 60 times more dollars on airline security than on rail security.
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Of the 3,045 collisions at rail crossings in 2004, the Federal Railroad Administration investigated only nine
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In 2007 there were 1851 train derailments reported to the FRA
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At 45% of all public railroad crossings, the only safety device is a crossbuck.
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In 2007 there were 511 derailments involving freight trains carrying HAZMATS
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In 2007 there were 735 accidents (derailments, collisions, etc.) involving freight trains carrying HAZMATS
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According to the FRA, in 2007 there were 25 derailments that required evacuation due to potential HAZMAT danger.
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In 2007 there were 12,522 accidents/incidents on the railroads. 812 of which resulted in one or more fatalities.
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