NTSB

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Commuter Rail

NTSB Opens Dockets on Three WMATA Wrecks

April 6, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — As part of the NTSB’s investigations into three separate accidents that occurred on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) system between November 2009 and February 2010, the NTSB opened the public accident dockets for these cases. The accidents include: — A collision that occurred on Nov. 29, 2009, at the WMATA West Falls Church station where a six-car train struck the rear of a stopped six-car train. Three employees sustained minor injuries. — An accident that occurred on Jan. 26, 2010, approximately 0.9 miles north of the Rockville station when two WMATA Metrorail automatic train control maintenance technicians were struck and fatally injured by a hi-rail vehicle. —

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Commuter Rail

Hersman: Investigations Highlight Need for New Perspective on Safety Culture

January 26, 2011 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah A. P. Hersman said accident investigations highlight the need for a new perspective on safety culture, record-keeping and aging infrastructure. In a speech to the audience at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) conference, Hersman discussed four investigations across all modes of transportation. She highlighted several accidents that claimed the lives of dozens and encouraged attendees to embrace lessons learned to prevent future accidents. “If you’re going to build a transportation project that’s going to stand for decades, the foundation of future operating decisions may well be based on the original documentation. Make sure your records stand the test of time,” Hersman said. Hersman

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FRA

NTSB to FRA: Require Audio and Image Recorders on Locomotives

February 24, 2010 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board makes the following recommendations to the Federal Railroad Administration: Require the installation, in all controlling locomotive cabs and cab car operating compartments, of crash- and fire-protected inward- and outward-facing audio and image recorders capable of providing recordings to verify that train crew actions are in accordance with rules and procedures that are essential to safety as well as train operating conditions.