Rail Passengers Association Urges FRA to Deny Risky Waiver

The Rail Passengers Association has called on the FRA to reject a freight rail industry waiver that would cut track inspections and compromise passenger safety across the national rail network. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The proposed waiver, filed by the Association of American Railroads, seeks to reduce visual track inspections by 75%, replacing them with automated technology used since the 1970s.

Rail Passengers Association Questions Automated Inspection Plans

Track Geometry Measurement Systems, also called Automated Track Inspection, identify only specific geometry-related defects. But they miss crucial risks like broken rails, erosion, or water damage, which only trained inspectors detect.

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According to Jim Mathews, CEO of the Rail Passengers Association, these systems can identify just 25% of the hazards a human inspector would catch on the ground. And relying solely on automation isn’t enough to guarantee safety.

More concerning, the waiver would allow up to 72 hours to respond to known issues found by ATI systems. This delay exposes passenger trains to dangerous conditions for extended periods.

Amtrak operates most of its intercity trains on freight-owned tracks. Roughly 71% of its total mileage runs over this infrastructure, making its safety dependent on consistent and thorough inspections.

Rail Passengers Association Demands Stronger Oversight

One tragic example occurred in 2001 near Joplin, Montana. The derailment of Amtrak’s Empire Builder killed three people and injured 49. Investigators linked the accident directly to neglected track conditions.

Public and bipartisan pressure for safer rail operations has surged following recent derailments like the East Palestine, Ohio disaster. In response, the group continues advocating for proven solutions, including FRA’s safety committees and anonymous reporting systems.

The association closed its letter by emphasizing that safety depends on both automated tools and expert human inspections working together to prevent future tragedies.

Source: www.narprail.org

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