Accidents/incidents down in six months

With 736 railroads reporting, the Federal Railroad Administration’s Office of Safety Analysis late Wednesday issued a preliminary report showing that 5,257 accidents/incidents were recorded during the first six months of 2011, 7.9% fewer than in the corresponding period of 2010.

Rail-related accidents totaled 359, up 0.5%. Highway/rail grade crossing fatalities were up 4.0% to 130. Trespassing fatalities—at 214—were exactly even with the prior-year period.

There were 11 employee fatalities, the same as in the 2010 period.

Train accidents increased 4.3% to 998. They caused six fatalities, compared with seven in the first six months of 2010. The number of collisions increased 19.7% to 79, while derailments were up 7.1% to 724. Yard accidents edged up 1% to 531.