WASHINGTON – A report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board questions the procedures and oversight of both Metro North and the Federal Railroad Administration and said more effective oversight would have identified problems which could have prevented fatalities. The NTSB examined accidents that resulted in 6 fatalities, 126 injuries and more than $28 million in damages.
NTSB investigations revealed that Metro-North safety programs that were in place were not effectively used to manage the safety of its operations and employees. Furthermore, Metro-North did not effectively investigate accidents and incidents to identify and fix safety deficiencies. In addition, known deficiencies were not corrected.
The NTSB said Metropolitan transportation Authority should have caught the sleep disorder of the engineer on the train that crashed in the Bronx in December, 2013.
Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Railroad did not have adequate protocols to screen employees, especially those performing safety – sensitive functions, for sleep disorders despite implementation of a protocol at New York City Transit.
Senator Chris Murphy released a statement in response to the report.
The findings released by NTSB should serve as a sobering wake-up call for MetroNorth, the Federal Railroad Administration, and commuter railroads across the country. It’s clear that MetroNorth’s safety culture was deeply flawed, and that tragic and needless death could have been prevented. The NTSB has provided an enormous public service in issuing today’s findings, and I want to thank their leaders and staff for their work. I look forward to working with MetroNorth, MTA, and FRA to implement new safety procedures and build on the important work they’ve already undertaken since these accidents.
Related Stories:
