NEW HAVEN, CT—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) released the following statement today on the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)’s final report on the five Metro-North accidents that took place between May 2013 and March 2014. That time frame includes December’s crash in the Bronx and last May’s employee death in West Haven.

“This report confirms what we already know: The Federal Railroad Administration and Metro-North’s operations and safety practices need to change. They have made progress in these areas, but Connecticut commuters deserve to have confidence in their rail system. We are right in the middle of the most-heavily trafficked commuter corridor in the United States. This is something we have to get right. The families of Robert Luden, and the five others who lost their lives in these accidents, deserve no less. Today’s recommendations should be implemented immediately to ensure not just the safety of commuters, but employees as well. And Congress should swiftly pass the Rail Safety Enforcement Act to help prevent such tragedies from ever happening again.”

In May DeLauro introduced the Rail Safety Enforcement Act, comprehensive legislation to enhance rail safety. The bill has five main provisions:
1.    Requires every rail carrier control cab to have an “alerter,” an automatic failsafe device that sounds an alarm when a train engineer seems idle while the train is in motion.
2.    Requires every rail carrier to develop a fatigue risk plan within 60 days and submit it to the Secretary of Transportation
3.    Requires every carrier to report on their progress in implementing the Positive Train Control System within 180 days of enactment.
4.    Requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations mandating “shunting,” or redundant signal protection for workers on the track.
5.    Mandates that railroad employees are provided with predictable and defined work and rest schedules.

The provision requiring every carrier to report on their progress in implementing the Positive Train Control system was included in the Transportation-Housing and Urban Development funding bill that passed the House of Representatives this past June.


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