Study Data from Rutgers State University Provide New Insights into Risk Management (Freight-train derailment rates for railroad safety and risk…

Insurance Weekly News

Study Data from Rutgers State University Provide New Insights into Risk Management (Freight-train derailment rates for railroad safety and risk analysis)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Fresh data on Risk Management are presented in a new report. According to news reporting out of Piscataway, New Jersey, by VerticalNews editors, research stated, "Derailments are the most common type of train accident in the United States. They cause damage to infrastructure, rolling stock and lading, disrupt service, and have the potential to cause casualties, and harm the environment."

Funders for this research include Association of American Railroads, BNSF Railway, ABSG consulting, NEXTRANS University Transportation Center, FHWA Dwight.

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Rutgers State University, "Train safety and risk analysis relies on accurate assessment of derailment likelihood. Derailment rate - the number of derailments normalized by traffic exposure - is a useful statistic to estimate the likelihood of a derailment. Despite its importance, derailment rate analysis using multiple factors has not been previously developed. In this paper, we present an analysis of derailment rates on Class I railroad mainlines based on data from the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration and the major freight railroads. The point estimator and confidence interval of train and car derailment rates are developed by FRA track class, method of operation and annual traffic density. The analysis shows that signaled track with higher FRA track class and higher traffic density is associated with a lower derailment rate."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "The new accident rates have important implications for safety and risk management decisions, such as the routing of hazardous materials."

For more information on this research see: Freight-train derailment rates for railroad safety and risk analysis. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 2017;98():1-9. Accident Analysis and Prevention can be contacted at: Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, England. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Accident Analysis and Prevention - www.journals.elsevier.com/accident-analysis-and-prevention/)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting X. Liu, Rutgers State University, Dept. of Civil & Environm Engn, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States. Additional authors for this research include M.R. Saat and C.P.L. Barkan.

Keywords for this news article include: Piscataway, New Jersey, United States, North and Central America, Risk Management, Rutgers State University.