NEWS

June 6, 1996

DEMOCRATS INTRODUCE COMPREHENSIVE RAILROAD SAFETY REFORM ACT TO ENHANCE SAFETY FOR PASSENGERS AND REDUCE RISK OF FREIGHT ACCIDENTS
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WASHINGTON -- Passenger and freight railroad safety would be significantly enhanced under legislation introduced today by 10 Democratic members of the House, according to Rep. James L. Oberstar (MN), Ranking Democratic Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The Railroad Safety Reform Act, H.R. 3578, was introduced by Oberstar; Rep. Robert E. Wise, Jr. (WV), Ranking Democratic Member of the Railroads Subcommittee; William O. Lipinski (IL); Rep. Bob Clement (TN); Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (OR); Rep. Frank Mascara (PA); Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX); Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY); Rep. Robert Menendez (NJ); Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (MD).

"Just since the beginning of this year there have been 54 railroad accidents now under investigation by either the Federal Railroad Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, or both. America deserves better than 54 railroad accidents -- 12 of which resulted in fatalities -- in 5 months. Were there 54 accidents in civil aviation in the last 5 months, the American people would have demanded that air travel come to a halt. But the perils which can come from railroad accidents are no less threatening to our neighbors and to our economy," Oberstar said.

"When our Committee assumed jurisdiction over railroads in this Congress, I was surprised to discover just how directionless safety regulation had become in both freight and passenger rail. Passenger car safety had exactly two requirements: Unbreakable windows and at least four emergency windows per car. Certification has been required for locomotive engineers. Not so for mechanics. Not so for track inspectors. Not so for signalmen. We have an Hours of Service Act that was passed almost 90 years ago and last revised more than a quarter-century ago. We can and should do better than this," Oberstar explained.

"This is an ambitious bill. Not every provision will be enacted this year. But as long as railroad accidents and hazardous materials spills are causing towns to be evacuated and interstate highways closed down for weeks at a time, as long as railroad employees are dying because the railroads refuse to install simple technology that has been available for years, we are not doing enough. Getting us moving in the right direction again is what the Railroad Safety Reform Act is all about," Oberstar concluded.

Highlights of the Railroad Safety Reform Act of 1996 include:

reinforcing safety as the highest priority for the FRA; establishing an annual rail safety summit to reach consensus on key rail safety issues; tracking progress with monthly reports; setting deadlines for power brake and track safety rulemakings;

enhancing safety enforcement by authorizing the hiring of 400 additional safety inspectors; improving the accuracy of accident and injury reports through auditing of accident reports and criminal penalties on intimidation of railroad workers;

improving grade-crossing safety by requiring railroads to establish toll-free numbers for reporting crossing-gate problems and vehicles stuck on railroad tracks; directing USDOT to draft model legislation establishing tougher penalties for driving around grade-crossing gates;

reducing fatigue among railroad workers by reforming the Hours of Service Act to set more reasonable working hours for train crews; prohibiting nighttime split shifts;

protecting passengers by requiring more emergency windows and doors; requiring rail signal systems to take account of the needs of passenger rail service; requiring safer passenger locomotive fuel tanks; improving passenger car crashworthiness;

protecting employees from retaliation if they object to a hazardous condition; requiring the certification of safety-related railroad personnel; requiring that train crews and roadway work groups be equipped with working radios.