Rail fatalities up 9.7% through September

In this year’s first nine months, 797 large and small U.S. railroads reported 587 fatalities, up 9.7% from the same period in 2009.

Trespassing deaths increased 10.5% to 359 and grade-crossing fatalities were up 3.1% to 196. There were 1,368 grade crossing incidents (collisions).

Employee fatalities increased 38.5% to 18. There were 13 employee fatalities in the 2009 period, 20 in 2008, and 10 in 2007.

Total accidents-incidents in this year’s January-September period were almost unchanged from last year—8,427 vs. 8,451.

Train accidents were down 3.0% to 1,398, collisions dropped 4.8% to 99; and yard accidents decreased 2.2% to 758.