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78. Federal advisory urges railroads to improve use of safety detectors

TRANSPORTATION

Federal advisory urges railroads to improve use of safety detectors

The Federal Railroad Administration issued recommendations after the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio

By Ian Duncan and Luz Lazo
Updated February 28, 2023 at 4:08 p.m. EST | Published February 28, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. EST

The Federal Railroad Administration issued a formal safety advisory Tuesday urging railroads to improve their use of trackside safety detectors, which failed to provide enough warning about a dangerously hot bearing before an Ohio derailment in early February.

Norfolk Southern’s system of detectors alerted the crew of the derailed train moments before it came off the tracks, according to preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board. The detectors are not subject to federal regulation, but in its advisory, the FRA recommended that railroads review their thresholds for when the detectors sound an alarm and how crews and railroad employees respond to warnings.

“Personnel should be encouraged and empowered to develop procedures that may temporarily impact operations, but maximize safety, just as those executing the procedures should be empowered to strictly adhere to those procedures, even if it delays a train,” according to the advisory, signed by Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose.

The advisory cites two other recent Norfolk Southern derailments in making the case for a review of the detectors. The railroad said it could not immediately comment on the advisory but referred to a statement last week noting that it had inspected detectors near the derailment site and found they were operating as designed.

Responding to the FRA’s recommendations, the Association of American Railroads said the industry has a “long history” of pushing safety measures and has “adopted voluntary practices” such as the deployment of wayside detectors and automated track inspection technologies.

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By Ian Duncan
Ian Duncan is a reporter covering federal transportation agencies and the politics of transportation. He previously worked at the Baltimore Sun for seven years, covering city hall, the military and criminal justice. He was part of the Sun's team covering Freddie Gray's death in 2015 and then-Mayor Catherine Pugh's Healthy Holly books scandal. Twitter https://twitter.com/iduncan

By Luz Lazo
Luz Lazo is a transportation reporter at The Washington Post covering passenger and freight transportation, buses, taxis and ride-sharing services. She also writes about traffic, road infrastructure and air travel in the Washington region and beyond. She joined The Post in 2011. Twitter https://twitter.com/luzcita

Safety Advisory 2023-01; Evaluation of Policies and Procedures Related to the Use and Maintenance of Hot Bearing Wayside Detectors

Document Series: Safety Advisories
Author: Federal Railroad Administration
Safety Advisory Number: 2023-01
Subject: Safety Advisories
Keywords: Safety Advisory, wayside detector, hot bearing
Safety Advisory 2023-01.pdf (204.7 KB)

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Last updated: Friday, March 3, 2023