Initiatives
Railroads keep America’s economy moving. Today, freight railroads move more freight than anyone and the demand for freight transport is expected to skyrocket in the coming years. Investing in the future also means investing in safety. The Association of American Railroads establishes safety, security and operating standards that make our nation’s freight rail system the safest, cleanest and most environmentally sound in the world.
Background Paper: Railroads: Moving America Safely
Our key initiatives include:
- Positive Train Control – PTC uses multiple systems designed to help prevent train collisions, enforce speed limits and improve safety. Railroads have invested more than $200 million researching and testing PTC systems. Railroads are aggressively working to meet federal implementation guidelines.
- Advanced Technology Safety Initiative – This predictive, proactive maintenance system employs innovative technology designed to detect and report potential safety problems and poorly performing equipment. For example, ATSI alerts freight car owners to deteriorating wheel sets.
- Grade Crossing Safety – The are approximately 140,000 public grade crossings in the United States. North America's railroads spend several hundred million dollars annually on crossing signal maintenance and safety-related educational programs. They are also founding sponsors of Operation Lifesaver, an international program devoted to ending collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and and on rail rights-of-way.
- Hazardous Material Transport – Rail is unquestionably the safest way to transport hazardous materials. The federal government requires railroads to move roughly 1.7 million carloads of hazardous cargo across America annually. Railroads are committed to transporting hazardous materials until safer chemicals and technologies are used.
- Railroad Fatigue Research and Countermeasures – Railroads have long partnered with their employees to gain a better understanding of fatigue-related issues and to find effective, innovative solutions to fatigue-related problems. This often includes educational efforts, adjustments to work schedules, sleep disorder screening programs and continued research.