AAR weekly rail traffic FRA data confirms rail safety progress with record-low injury and accident rates
Newly released 2024 data from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) confirm that continued investments in innovation, infrastructure, and workforce expertise are making rail transportation even safer. Railroads continue to make strides to improve employee safety with Class I railroads setting a second consecutive all-time record-low rate of injuries and fatalities last year. Additionally, the train accident rate declined for all railroads by 33% since 2005 and 15% year-over-year.
Ian Jefferies
“A relentless safety culture and sustained private investments continue to make railroads safer for both the communities they serve and the dedicated rail employees who keep the industry moving,” said AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies. “Railroads remain focused on an even safer future, and 2024 results demonstrate real progress.”
Employee Safety Achievements:
- Industry-wide, the rate of injuries and fatalities has declined 27% since 2005, while the Class I railroad rate fell 46%, setting an all-time low record for the second consecutive year.
- While even one fatality is too many, railroads continue to drive to reduce on-duty fatalities with a 64% improvement since 2005 and employee fatalities averaging less than 10 over the past 5 years.
2024 Rail Safety Performance (Per Million Train Miles):
- The train accident rate declined 33% since 2005 and 15% since 2023 across all railroads.
- Derailment rates industry-wide have improved 40% since 2005, making 2024 the second-lowest year on record.
- Overall, the mainline accident rate fell 37% since 2005, with Class I rates improving by 43% for the same period.
- Train accident causes saw significant improvements across the board, with human factor-related incidents declining 18% year-over-year and track-caused accidents at an all-time low.
- Class I Railroads’ recent efforts resulted in a 32% decline in yard accidents since 2005 and a 25% year-over-year improvement.
- Per carload, the hazardous materials accident rate has declined 80% since 2005, and more than 99.99% of all hazardous materials shipments arrive without incident.
Addressing Grade Crossing and Trespassing Risks
Despite these gains, grade crossing and trespassing accidents remain the leading causes of rail-related injuries and fatalities, accounting for over 95% of all incidents. While the total number of public crossings has declined by 12% since 2005 and the percentage of crossings equipped with gates increased from 26% to 45%, the grade crossing accident rate improved just 4% over the period, underscoring the critical need for further action.
Investments in infrastructure, public safety campaigns and collaboration with government and community partners are all important elements in the effort to reduce grade crossing and trespasser accidents. Programs like the Grade Crossing Elimination Program and Section 130 provide essential funding that enables communities to build grade separations, close crossings, and upgrade warnings systems. Continued investments in these programs are vital to reducing risk across the nation.
Building a Safer Future
Safeguarding rail employees’ well-being and the communities the industry serves are a top priority that drives innovation, collaboration and investment each day. Maintaining and advancing safety across the 140,000-mile network requires among other things modernizing infrastructure, rigorously training employees, and deploying new technologies. Underpinning the industry’s comprehensive safety strategy and this year’s results are sustained private investments, which totaled $26.8 billion in 2023 alone.
