Safety has been one of the biggest concerns in the Indian Railways system.

While the number of accidents have gone down over the last few years, the
number still remains above 100.

Causes of rail accidents

The number of rail accidents has declined from 325 in 2003-04 to 106 in

2015-16. The number of railway accidents divided by cause are shown in
the graph below.  In 2015-16, majority of the accidents were caused due to
derailments (60%), followed by accidents at level crossings (33%). In the
last decade, accidents caused due to both these causes have reduced by
about half. According to news reports, the recent railway accidents in UP
were also caused due to derailment of the coaches.

Derailments

Between 2003-04 and 2015-16, derailments were the second highest reason
for casualties. The Standing Committee on Railways had noted  that one of
the reasons for derailments is defect in the track or rolling stock. Of the
total track length of 1,14,907 km in the country, 4,500 km should be
renewed annually. However, in 2015-16, of the 5,000 km of track length
due for renewal currently, only 2,700 km of track length was targeted to be
renewed. The Standing Committee had recommended that Indian Railways
should switch completely to the Linke Hoffman Busch (LHB) coaches as
they do not pile upon each other during derailments and hence cause lesser
casualties.2

Unmanned level crossings

Unmanned level crossings (UMLCs) continue to be the biggest cause of
maximum casualties in rail accidents. Currently there are 14,440 UMLCs in
the railway network. In 2014-15, about 40% of the accidents occurred at
UMLCs, and in 2015-16, about 28%. Between 2010 and 2013, the ministry
fell short of meeting the targets to eliminate UMLCs. Further, the target of
eliminating UMLCs was reduced by about 50% in 2014-15. The Standing
Committee on Railways had recommended that audio-visual warnings
should be implemented at level crossings to warn road users about
approaching trains. These may include the Approaching Train Warning
Systems and the Train Actuated Warning Systems. In the Union Budget
2017-18, elimination of all unmanned level crossings on broad gauge lines
by 2020 has been proposed.

Casualties and compensation

In the last few years, the number of casualties has varied. Further, on
average, Indian Railways has paid Rs 303 lakh every year towards
compensation for such accidents (see figure below).

Consequential train accidents

Consequential train accidents include collisions, derailments, accidents at

level crossings, train fires and similar accidents that have serious
repercussions in terms of casualties and damage to property. These exclude
cases of trespassing at unmanned railway crossings. The causes of such
consequential train accidents are shown in the graph below.
As seen in the figure above, the share of failure of railways staff is the
biggest cause of consequential rail accidents. The number of rail accidents
due to failure of reasons other than the railway staff (sabotage) has
increased in the last few years.

Accidents due to failure of railway staff

The Standing Committee on Railways, when examining safety and security

in the railways, had noted that more than half of the accidents are due to
lapses on the part of railway staff. Such lapses include carelessness in
working, poor maintenance work, adoption of short-cuts and non-
observance of laid down safety rules and procedures. The committee had
recommended that a regular refresher course for each category of railway
staff should be conducted.

Accidents due to loco-pilots

Accidents also occur due to signalling errors for which loco-pilots (train
operators) are responsible. With rail traffic increasing, loco-pilots
encounter a signal at every kilometre and have to constantly be on high
alert. Further, currently no technological support is available to the loco-
pilots and they have to keep a vigilant watch on the signal and control the
train accordingly. Loco-pilots are also overworked as they have to work
beyond their stipulated hours of duty. This work stress and fatigue puts the
life of thousands of commuters at risk and affects the safety of train
operations. The Standing Committee on Railways had recommended that
loco-pilots and other related running staff be provided with sound working
conditions, better medical facilities and other amenities to improve their
performance.  With regard to signals, the committee recommended that the
location of signals can be uniformly displayed and be linked with visibility,
braking distance and speed.

Under-investment in the railways leading to accidents

Various committees such as the High Level Safety Review Committee in

2012 (chaired by Anil Kakodkar) and the Standing Committee on Railways
have looked at the aspect of safety in the Indian Railways and made certain
recommendations. According to the Kakodkar Committee, the total
financial implication of the safety measures over the five-year period
(2012-17) was likely be around Rs 1 lakh crore.

In the Union Budget 2017-18, the creation of a Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha

Kosh was proposed for passenger safety. It will have a corpus of Rs 1 lakh
crore over a period of five years (Rs 20,000 crore per year).

While accidents have been decreasing, the number still remains fairly high.
The Standing Committee on Railways noted that the slow expansion of rail
networks has put undue burden on the existing infrastructure, leading to
severe congestion and safety compromises. Since independence, while the
railways’ route kilometres have increased by 23%, passenger and freight
traffic over the railways network has increased by 1,344% and 1,642%
respectively. This suggests that the railway lines are severely congested.
Further, under-investment in the railways has resulted in congested routes,
inability to add new trains, reduction of train speeds and more rail
accidents. Therefore, avoiding such accidents in the future would also
require significant investments towards capital and maintenance of
railways infrastructure.

The Indian Railway is the world’s third-largest network, transporting 18

million people each day to their destinations. Every day, almost 16,000
trains pass across the railway tracks, and train collisions are a typical
occurrence on Indian railways.
According to train accident records, derailments and railway crossings
generate significant accidents. Until recently, crossings were open, and
most incidents incorporated human error as the cause.

The Indian Railways do not have enough money to invest, and the annual
accident rate is around 300, which is extremely high and requires
immediate care. Though derailment and collisions have decreased
significantly, human error and fire continue to be a hazard.
The Indian Railways has its disaster management plan to deal with rail
catastrophes in all phases, including before, during, and after the disaster.
However, railway safety results from all of these factors working together.
Consequences of train accidents include loss of human life or injury,
damage to railway property, or disruptions in rail traffic that exceed
established threshold levels and values. The growing population demanded
more trains and increased the frequency of existing trains, resulting in an
imbalanced increase in rail traffic over several years, putting immense
pressure on rail tracks and exceeding the ‘safe’ limit.
What is Causing Frequent Train Accidents in
India?
The accidents have focused attention on weaknesses in the Indian
Railways, with reports indicating that train derailment was the major cause
of train accidents in India during the last decade.
According to a report published to the Lok Sabha by the Standing
Committee on Railways in December 2016, derailments were the primary
cause of train accidents in India from 2003 to 2016, killing 511 people. The
most common cause of train accidents appears to be a derailment.
However, the Railway Ministry’s 2015 and 2016 show other derailments in
2014.
As a result, according to the 2016 report, the number of derailments in
2015 was higher than in 2014. It raises another concern of disparity in
government records.

While a human mistake gets listed as the major cause of these incidents in
the reports, there is disagreement over the number of instances the error
resulted in catastrophe.
 Failures on the railway crew were the primary cause of these
incidents. According to Firstpost, most incidents involved
negligence, shortcuts, and a disregard for safety laws and
procedures.
China has expressed its displeasure at India’s reported remarks
by General Bipin Rawat. According to the report’s statistics:

o 90 people died due to the derailment,

o 8 as a result of the collision,

o 12 as a result of manned level crossing accidents,

o 41 as a result of train fire, and

o 5 as a result of other causes.

 Unmanned level crossings (UMLCs) continue to be one of the
leading causes of rail accident fatalities. There are 14,440
UMLCs on the railway network right now. UMLCs were
responsible for roughly 40% of accidents in 2014-15 and about
28% in 2015-16.
Between 2010 and 2013, the ministry did not fulfil its goal of
eliminating UMLCs. In addition, in 2014-15, the goal of
eliminating UMLCs was cut by roughly half. According to the
Standing Committee on Railways, audio-visual signs should be
 installed at level crossings to notify road users of approaching
trains.
Approaching Train Warning Systems and Train Actuated
Warning Systems are two examples. All unattended level
crossings on broad gauge railways would be eliminated by 2020,
according to the Union Budget 2017-18.

When the Standing Committee on Railways looked into the safety

and security of the railways, it found that more than half of the
incidents occurred by human error. Such shortcomings are
carelessness, bad maintenance work, shortcuts, and failure to
follow established safety regulations and procedures. The
committee has recommended regular refresher training for each
category of railway staff.
 Accidents can also occur due to signalling failures, which are the
fault of loco-pilots (train operators). With increased train traffic,
loco-pilots are confronted with a signal every kilometre and must
maintain a high level of alertness.
 Furthermore, loco-pilots now have no technological assistance,
so they must keep a close eye on the signal and adjust the train
accordingly. Loco-pilots are likewise overworked because they
must work over their contracted hours. This work stress and
tiredness endangers the lives of thousands of commuters and
jeopardises train operations.
 The train coaches aren’t all brand new. Some of them got built at
the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), and they’re known for piling up
when they collide. Linke Hoffman Busch (LHB) coaches made of
stainless steel are more effective at shock absorption and
preventing derailment.
Major Train Accidents in India
Travelling by train is riskier than it is comfortable nowadays; we will try to
learn about some deadly railway mishaps; train accidents have resulted in
many deaths in India. These mishaps are not only unlucky but also
distressing.

When there are many accidents, the Railway Department of India faces a
significant challenge because rail transportation is one of India’s most
important modes of transportation and should be safe.
 Bihar Train Accident tops the charts with a death toll ranging
between 500-800. On 6th June 1981, Near Saharsa, Bihar, the
incident took place, a passenger train derailed and sank in the
Bagmati River. Over 800 people were said to have died in total. It
was one of India’s and the world’s most dangerous train
accidents. According to some news outlets, a hurricane caused
the catastrophe, while others claim the cause was flash flooding.
The train plunged into the river with quick braking when the
animal approached the bridge as the heavy driver rained.
 On August 20, 1995, the Purushottam Express, which runs
between Delhi and Kanpur, collided with the stationary Kalindi
Express near Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, killing around 360
passengers on both trains. Some news outlets blamed the
occurrence on a human error. After the animal died, the brake on
the Kalindi Express became blocked, and the train came to a halt
on the track. In addition, the Purushottam Express got permitted
to use the same track. The disaster was caused by the
Purushottam Express colliding with the Kalindi Express from
behind. The death toll raised to 358
  Talking about train accidents, one cannot forget the unfortunate
collision of Awadh–Assam Express and Brahmaputra Mail. The
Awadh-Assam Express and the Brahmaputra Mail collided in
Awadh, Katihar Division of the North Frontier Railway, killing 268
people and injuring over 359 others.
Several news outlets said that the Mail was transporting Indian
troops and soldiers from Assam to the border. At the same time,
the Awadh Assam Express was headed to Guwahati and
stationed near Guslar.

Due to signal failure, the Brahmaputra Mail got the green light to
continue on the same track. As a result, the Awadh Assam
Express was hit from the front around 1:30 a.m. By the power of
the explosion, the engine of the Awadh Assam was flung high
into the air, and passengers from both trains got hurled onto
nearby homes and fields.
Some other major train accidents included Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani
Express on September 9, 2002, Gyaneshwari Express train derailment on
May 28, 2010, and the list goes on and on.

According to the 2012 report of the High-Level Safety Review Committee,

1019 people died, and 2118 got injured in railway incidents in India
between 2007–08 and October 2011.

In addition, 1600 railway employees lost their lives, and 8700 people were
injured. According to the data, illegal trespassing kills roughly 15,000
people each year. Various factors, including fire, collisions, derailments,
and unattended railway crossings, cause rail accidents.
According to train accident records, derailments and railway crossings
generate significant accidents. Until recently, crossings were open, and
most incidents were caused by human error.

The train’s speed is increasing thanks to modern technology, but it also

necessitates robust safety measures to minimise train catastrophes and
keep rail travel safe.
Steps Taken by Indian Railways to Reduce
Train Accidents
The number of consequential train accidents has fallen from 118 in 2013-
14 to 104 in 2016-17, 73 in 2017-18, and 59 in 2018-19, thanks to
numerous significant initiatives taken by Indian Railways. These are the
lowest figures ever recorded in Indian Railways’ history.
Indian Railways focuses on safety, and all reasonable measures are taken
regularly to prevent accidents and improve passenger safety. To avoid
accidents, the following steps/measures were taken: –

 The Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) was launched in

2017-18 with Rs 1 lakh crore corpus for five years and an annual
outlay of Rs 20000 crore for replacement, renewal, and upgrade
of critical safety assets.

 Modified Centre Buffer Couplers, Bogie Mounted Air Brake

System (BMBS), enhanced suspension design, and provision of
Automatic fire & smoke detection system in coaches have been
implemented by Indian Railways to improve the safety aspects of
coaches and waggons. Regularly, these improvements get
included in freshly constructed coaches and wagons.
  Security helpline number 182 has been activated on Indian
Railways to provide security-related assistance to passengers in
distress.

 CCTV cameras are installed at around 394 stations across Indian

Railways to maintain safety.

 Railways communicate with passengers daily via social media

platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to improve passenger
security and answer their security concerns.

 According to the statement, regular coordination is conducted

with State Police/GRP authorities at all levels to prevent crime,
register crimes, investigate, and maintain peace and order in
Railway facilities and on moving trains.
Legal Provisions in Railway Accident
The liability of railways in the event of a train accident or death has always
been a contentious issue. On May 9th, 2018, the Supreme Court of India
resolved the case of Union of India vs Rina Devi. In this case, the Supreme
Court ruled that death or injury while boarding or deboarding a train
constitutes an”untoward incident. “
Section 124A of the Railways Act of 1989 defines an”unwanted incident. ”
So, according to Section 124A of The Railways Act, if an untoward incident
occurs while the railways are in operation, the railway administration must
compensate the victim or the victim’s dependent, regardless of whether or
not the railway administration was negligent or made a mistake.

The Railways Act of 1989 provides compensation to the following

individuals:
  People involved in any type of railway accident, including rail
derailment, low-level crossing (only those boarding the train), and
rail-car collision.
 Any person involved in a subsequent railway accident that
causes injury or death to that person

 Anyone who has been exposed to hazardous chemicals or

involved in sabotage, terrorism, explosion, or fire

Certain people are not entitled to compensation under Section 124A of The
Railways Act, and they are as follows:

 If a person makes a deliberate attempt to kill themselves, this

gets referred to as suicidal ideation.

 Any self-inflicted injury.

 Injuries caused by a person’s illegal act

 An action done by someone who is intoxicated or insane

Section 125 of the Railways Act of 1989 allows a victim or dependent of a

deceased person to apply for compensation and pay the prescribed fee.

The railway administration has increased the compensation amount. The

Railways Act, 1989, as amended by the Indian government, includes such
enhancements. Compensation has been paid twice for people who have
suffered severe physical injuries or have died.

The initial compensation amount of Rs. 4 lakh got increased to Rs. 8 lakh
under the Railway Accident and Untoward Incidents (Compensation)
Amendment Rules, 2016 in cases involving the death of a passenger or the
loss of a limb. The Railways Claim Tribunal will award compensation to the
victim’s dependents who died or suffered severe injuries.

According to the official notification, if a person becomes blind, loses sight

in one eye, or becomes deaf, he or she will be awarded Rs 8 lakh in
compensation. According to the official notification released by the railway
administration, a person is also granted the same amount of Rs 8 lakh if
that person suffers from severe facial disfigurement. The amount for
injuries ranges from Rs.32,000/- to Rs.8,00,000/-, depending on the nature
of the injury sustained.

Some of the rights given to the claimants are the Right to Legal
Representation and Free Legal-Aid.
Conclusion
Indian railways must get compared to the Shinkansen, a Japanese railway
system that has carried millions of people without a single fatality since
1964.

Apart from depending on revenue from the railway’s internal generation,

the government will require a significant investment programme to
accomplish all of this. This investment will not only save lives, but it will also
pay off handsomely in terms of GDP. It’s past time to reclassify railways as
a”basic infrastructure supplier ” rather than a”commercial organisation. “
Hence, the transportation on which such a large number of people depends
must ensure their safety. It is a need of the hour to look out the ways to
prevent train accidents in India.
Over 13,000 train accidents in 2020, 32 lives lost daily on average:
NCRB report
The NCRB report on railway incidents across the country showed that
Maharashtra ranks first and Uttar Pradesh second, both in terms of the
number of accidents as well as deaths.

The
NCRB report also showed that railway accidents reduced significantly in 2020, compared to that of
the previous year. (File Photo / HT)

Published on Oct 31, 2021 08:23 AM IST

Written by Joydeep Bose | Edited by Meenakshi Ray, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

More than 13,000 train accidents across the country have killed nearly 12,000
railway passengers last year, according to a recent report by the National Crime
Records Bureau (NCRB). The latest statistics mean that on average, 32 people lost
their lives every day in these accidents in 2020. The report also shows that 8,400 or
about 70 per cent of these railway accidents last year took place as passengers either
fell off the train or came in the way while crossing the railway track.
These are the statistics from a period when 45 per cent of the passenger trains in the
country were not being operated due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Maharashtra tops list in railway accidents, UP takes second spot
The NCRB report on railway accidents across the country showed that Maharashtra
ranks first and Uttar Pradesh second, both in terms of the number of accidents as well
as deaths.
Uttar Pradesh topped the list ranking the number of train collisions at railway
crossings, while Bihar and Madhya Pradesh came second and third in this list,
respectively.
However, the report, issued by the central government, also showed that railway
accidents reduced significantly in 2020, compared to that of the previous year.
According to the NCRB Annual Report 2020, there were 27,987 train accidents in
2019, which declined to 13,018 in 2020.
The report further detailed that as many as 11,986 railway passengers were killed and
11,127 were injured in these accidents during the past year. The highest number of
train accidents or 20 per cent of the total were found to be in Maharashtra, while
Uttar Pradesh followed up at number two with 12 per cent of the total number of
accidents.
In terms of the number of deaths, Maharashtra again topped the list, reporting 1,922
deaths (16 per cent of the toll), while Uttar Pradesh recorded 1,558 deaths (13 per
cent of the toll).
Train collisions
Out of the 13,018 recorded train accidents in 2020, as many as 9,117 of them (70
per cent of the total) took place due to passengers falling off the train or coming on
its way while crossing the track.
A total of 8,400 people died in this manner, which is again 70 per cent of the total
death toll of 11,987. Additionally, Uttar Pradesh topped the list in terms of train
collisions at railway crossings, recording as many as 380 of the 1,014 total accidents
reported in this manner. Bihar, with 191 train accidents and 144 crossing collisions,
came second.
In Madhya Pradesh, there were a total of 191 train accidents and 144 collision
crossings; the state came third in the list of similar accidents.
In all, a total of 1,185 people died in train collisions, with 561 deaths (47 per cent), in
UP, 142 deaths (16 per cent) in Bihar, and 191 deaths in Madhya Pradesh.
Errors on part of loco pilot
Out of the 13,018 train accidents in 2020, as many as 12,440 of them took place due
to the fault of the loco pilot, the person responsible for driving the train and ensuring
its proper maintenance during transit. Other reasons include errors on part of the
signalman, mechanical errors, poor track repair infrastructure, bridge/tunnel collapse,
and the likes.

Why the railways suffer on an average 100 accidents a year

The Utkal Express derailment on Saturday left 23 people dead and over 150 injured. Photo: PTI 4 min
read . Updated: 23 Aug 2017, 01:04 PM ISTJyotika Sood
The problem of railway accidents is not of safety standards but the execution of standards
New Delhi: Since 2012, six of every 10 rail accidents in India have happened
because of mistakes by or the negligence of railway staff, according to a study by
NITI Aayog.
In the year to 31 March 2017, 66 of 104 consequential rail accidents were
attributed to failure of railway staff according to Indian Railways data. And in the
three months to 30 June, eight of 11 accidents were attributed to failure of railway
staff.
On Sunday, three top Indian Railways officials were ordered to go on leave and
three more suspended after a report on the Kalinga-Utkal Express accident on
Saturday that has so far resulted in around two dozen deaths blamed the negligence
of railway staff.
Since 1960, Indian Railways has seen growth in infrastructure, expenditure,
ridership and freight, but it has been steadfast in terms of accidents: roughly one
every three days.
Safety on the Indian Railways network is the end product of the cohesive fusion of
its myriad parts. Over 700,000 people work on safety-related operations at the
country’s largest employer, according to Indian Railways’ response to a Parliament
question. A small slip by one of them, or a single flaw in the 66,030km track criss-
crossing the country can affect one or more of 10,773 locomotives, 63,046 coaches
and 245,000 wagons , jeopardizing the 23 million passengers and three million
tonnes of freight that the network carries everyday.
Expand

Railway accidents happen due to several reasons. An incorrect signal, a mistake or

an act of negligence by one of its staff directly associated with the running of
trains, deficiency in tracks, a rash act by one of the millions of road users, an
irresponsible act by a passenger who carries inflammable goods... Added to these
are the acts of sabotage.
Indian Railways claims safety is one of its main focuses, and while that may be the
case, there are several worrying gaps that point to action not matching intent.
For one, there’s the 16% shortage in safety staff. As of 1 April, the total number of
vacancies in safety staff was around 124,201. And this number has been growing
steadily over the decades.
The shortage means that others have to work more and harder. Speaking on
condition of anonymity, a loco (locomotive)-pilot (engine driver) said: “Our duty
hours range from 12-16 hours a day and then, there are the inhuman conditions in
which we work. No toilets, no lunch break and engines have no seats ." “How do
you expect us to give our best," he asked? He adds that the government has failed
to install toilets in all locomotives.
To be sure, Indian Railways’ safety record has to be seen against the backdrop of
the growing scale and complexity of its operations.
“The pressure of freight and passenger trains doesn’t give us enough window to
carry on repairs. If we cancel trains, freight and passengers are affected," said a
member of the railway board, the apex management body of Indian Railways.
Indian Railways has divided its 66,030km of track into 1,219 sections and out of
these 492 are running at 100% capacity, in some cases more. Most accidents occur
on these over-capacity routes.
Based on the volume of traffic, Indian Railways’ safety record doesn’t look bad at
all. “We have done our best. In the last one decade we have brought accidents per
million train kilometers (an international standard to measure performance of
railways) down from 0.23 to 0.9 which shows our seriousness towards railways
safety," said Indian Railways spokesperson Anil Saxena.
Indeed, even the standing committee on Indian Railways mentioned the difficulty
in finding time for maintenance of assets due to saturation of the current network
as a concern when it submitted its report Safety and Security of Railways to
Parliament on 3 August.
The committee also highlighted another issue—the fact that there is no “safety
department", which means that the function is overseen by several departments of
Indian Railways. It said “inter-departmental differences" could reduce “efficiency,
resulting in delayed response and compromises on safety."
The railway board member cited above admitted that lack of coordination is one of
the reasons for accidents and also why maintenance activities are sometimes not
undertaken properly.
The committee also noted that Indian Railways faced several constraints while
addressing safety issues, most notably the non-availability of funds to create
additional capacity and modernise assets. It recommended timely replacement of
over-aged assets, adoption of suitable technologies for upgradation and
maintenance of track, rolling stock, signalling and interlocking systems, safety
drives, greater emphasis on training of officials and inspections at regular intervals.
Saxena said that for the ageing infrastructure the average expenditure on track
renewal is around Rs5,548 crore per year and this year it has been increased to
Rs9,961 crore. Similarly, safety-related expenditure has been increased every year
—from Rs42,430 crore in 2014-15 to Rs65,241 crore in 2017-18.
A senior railway ministry official who asked not to be identified said, “We are
trying our best to keep updated with the railway safety standards and devices. We
have installed systems like Block Proving Axle Counters (BPAC), Auxilary
Warning System (AWS), Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS), Train
Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), etc to aid frontline staff and reduce human
dependence." These systems are yet to cover the entire network.
Former railway board chairman Arunendra Kumar agrees: “The problem in India is
not of safety standards but the execution of standards."

Top 10 Causes of Train & Railroad Accidents

There are a variety of reasons why train accidents occur – most of which take place at crossings

when cars try to "beat" the train. When these accidents occur, they often involve the passengers,

driver, and some passersby.

While every case is unique, the most common causes of train accidents include:

 Negligence
 Human error
 Reckless pedestrians and drivers
 Mechanical failure
 Speedy trains
  Defective tracks
 Derailments
 Unprotected railroad crossings
 Stalled cars on the track
 Suicides

1. Negligence

Railroad accidents due to negligence can be blamed on different groups. Some may be the fault

of the railway company itself, whereas others are because a conductor or railroad employee was

negligent. Some accidents are even caused by the neglect of a government agency. Or perhaps

an equipment manufacturer can be a reason why the accident happened.

One example of railway negligence is when a crossing arm is operated incorrectly. Another

careless mistake is if the operator forgot or failed to turn on the signal light, which should have

provided adequate warning.

A common factor that contributes to this problem is the decades old, outdated technology still

frequently used for railways and trains today. Better technology is available to improve railway

safety, but adopting these features is often put on hold because it involves a hefty investment.

For example, all Class I main lines that handle either hazardous materials or passenger trains (or

both) were required by Congress to implement a system of train control technology

called Positive Train Control (PTC) by the end of 2018. PTC aims to prevent many different types
of train accidents such as collisions between trains, grade crossing accidents, and train

derailments due to high speeds. However, an estimated two-thirds of U.S. commuter railroads

failed to meet the deadline, and PTC is only in operation on 45% of tracks owned by freight

railroads and 24% of tracks owned by passenger railways.

2. Human Error

If the conductor is inexperienced, train accidents can easily happen. Even those who have been

working in the railroad industry for quite some time may make a mistake that harms other

people, including passengers. Another growing problem with both experienced and new

conductors is fatigue. They cannot operate the train safely if they’re exhausted, yet they do so

anyway due to pressure they face from their supervisors and company.
Human error has always been one of the most common reasons for any accident. From poor

judgment to vision issues to impaired reactions, these factors can (and do) contribute to train

disasters.

3. Reckless Pedestrians & Drivers

Train accidents aren’t always the fault of the train operator or company. Sometimes, a reckless

or distracted pedestrian can cause a collision by standing on or crossing the tracks at the wrong

time. In other scenarios, the driver of a car, truck, motorcycle or other motor vehicle can cause an

accident by leaving their vehicle parked on a train track or trying to beat the train across a

crossing.

4. Mechanical Failure

The train operator, railway employees and the company itself can do everything within their

ability to follow all the required safety procedures, but a train accident can still happen.

Mechanical failure and defective parts are more rare than other common causes of train

collisions, but they do occasionally happen.

Trains are large machines with complex systems and many moving parts. All of the different

systems must work together perfectly to provide locomotive and electric power. If some piece of

guidance equipment (such as a rail switch) or safety equipment (such as a rail signal) fails, it can

cause a deadly accident.

5. Speedy Trains

Time and again, car accident data proves that driving recklessly fast can lead to serious injuries

and deaths. Trains are no exception. Many train accidents in recent years showed that the faster

the train, the worse the consequences become in the event of a crash and the higher likelihood of

derailment.

6. Defective Tracks

Obstruction is a common issue with the tracks and can cause train derailment. Foreign objects

left inadvertently at the site where the train will pass can be deadly. Conductors should be aware

of their surroundings at all times to manage a potentially dangerous situation quickly and safely.
However, in some cases, a conductor fails to see these obstacles at all or in time to stop a

collision.

7. Derailments

A derailment is when a train runs off its rail, either because of a collision with another object, a

conductor error, mechanical track failure, broken rails, or defective wheels. A derailment doesn’t

necessarily mean the train leaves the tracks – some may be minor. However, a serious

derailment can be catastrophic if it occurs while the train is moving at a high rate of speed.

8. Unprotected railroad crossings

More than 80 percent of crossings lack adequate warning devices such as lights and gates, and

more than half of all railroad accidents occur at unprotected crossings. Tennessee residents

know well that there are many unprotected railroad crossings across the state. Accidents at

unprotected railroad crossings are most often caused by:

 Poor visibility
 Driver distraction
 Driver inebriation/intoxication
 Driver trying to race the train

 Malfunctioning signals
 Obstacles that block a driver’s view
 Conductor failing to sound an alarm

9. Stalled cars on the track

Cars rarely get stuck on railroad grade crossings. More common is when drivers stall out when

slowing down to cross bumpy grades due to a poorly tuned engine. If this happens to you, first

you try to start it again immediately. If it won’t start, put your vehicle in neutral and ask for help to

push your vehicle off the tracks. But if a train is rapidly approaching and there’s no time to save

your car, remember that your life and safety are first priority. Get as far from your vehicle as

possible.

10. Suicides

Sadly, some people choose to take their own lives by standing on the tracks or jumping in front

of a train. Federal statistics show that 266 people killed themselves by stepping in front of trains
in 2017. Unfortunately, this tragic and desperate act also endangers other lives such as train

crews, emergency responders, passengers and bystanders.