Growing length of U.S. freight trains in federal
crosshairs after crashes: GAO
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[December 06, 2017] By
Eric M. Johnson
SEATTLE (Reuters) - The investigative arm
of the U.S. Congress is launching a probe into the safety of
increasingly long freight trains being operated by CSX Corp <CSX.O>,
Union Pacific Corp <UNP.N> and other major U.S. railroads to boost
profitability, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) said.
Train length is currently unregulated. Any push to add rules would
likely face stiff industry opposition because railroads use longer
trains to boost margins through the better use of fuel, locomotive
power, and rail cars without having to add extra crew.
In addition to the GAO study, safety regulator the Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) has beefed up its presence at CSX rail yards,
according to CSX employees and SMART Union Chairman Dale Barnett, citing
conversations with FRA inspectors.
FRA spokesman Marc Willis declined to characterize concerns over CSX
train length but said any appearance of increased inspections is due
partly to safety complaints and a spike in railroad accidents or
incidents.
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"In recent months, there have been accidents involving long trains which
are currently under investigation by the NTSB and the FRA," Willis said.
The GAO will launch its study on safety and other impacts of longer
trains in February, GAO spokesman Chuck Young told Reuters on Tuesday.
The action was prompted by a Nov. 7 letter, seen by Reuters, from U.S.
Representatives Peter DeFazio and Michael Capuano, both Democratic
members of the House Transportation Committee.
DeFazio said his office has received complaints over safety and traffic
jams at rail crossings.
CSX, the No.3 U.S. railroad by revenue, told investors in October its
freight trains have increased more than 400 feet to 6,833 feet (2.08 km)
on average since March, when newly appointed Chief Executive Officer
Hunter Harrison launched his plan to boost profits and streamline
operations.
CSX's eastern U.S. rival Norfolk Southern Corp's <NSC.N> trains average
longer than 5,500 feet, a year-to-date record, the company said in the
third quarter.
Western U.S. railroad Union Pacific said it posted record third quarter
"train size performance" after hitting a record in 2016.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Aug/26/images/ads/current/napa_bch1-3108.png)
"Longer trains maximize crews, locomotives, fuel and other resources,"
said Union Pacific spokeswoman Raquel Espinoza.
FRA data shows CSX's train accidents and incidents as a portion of miles
traveled at the highest level in a decade after climbing in each of the
last five years. (https://tinyurl.com/ybf6bqyy)
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![](../images/120617pics/busine58.jpg)
A CSX freight train crosses the Potomac River in Harpers Ferry, West
Virginia, U.S. on October 16, 2012. REUTERS/Gary Cameron/File Photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Dec/06/images/ads/current/johnson_lda_2017.png)
SMART Union transportation division spokesman John Risch told top rail regulator
the Surface Transportation Board (STB) at an October hearing on CSX service
problems the average U.S. train is up to 1.5 miles long (2.41 km), but CSX has
routinely operated trains two or even three miles long since Harrison took over.
The STB declined interview requests.
CSX spokesman Bryan Tucker said the industry trend toward longer trains is a
"tried and proven way to increase efficiency."
The latest concerns follow the fiery derailment of a 178-car CSX freight train
in Hyndman, Pennsylvania in August, and the Nov. 27 derailment of a CSX train
with 192 cars - nearly 2 miles long excluding locomotives - in Lakeland,
Florida, spilling hazardous molten sulfur.
The FRA told Reuters it is also investigating the June derailment of a
13,147-foot CSX train in Crestline, Ohio.
National Transportation Safety Board rail division head David Bucher told
Reuters train length and build were "an important part of the investigation"
into the Hyndman crash, adding he was hesitant to draw conclusions about an
ongoing investigation.
"Train lengths are increasing across the country," Bucher said. "It is becoming
more and more common, not just with CSX."
The NTSB, FRA, and STB do not collect data on train length, except for specific
accidents or mediations.
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The American Association of Railroads (AAR) declined to comment.
CSX employees and union officials said many conductors lack experience to run
long trains.
CSX's Tucker said the railroad's crews are fully qualified to operate longer
trains and CSX uses computer modeling before running longer trains on a new
route.
One CSX manager told Reuters FRA inspectors have showed up almost daily in
recent weeks looking for long trains and conducting inspections at terminals in
Cincinnati, Ohio, Waycross, Georgia, and elsewhere.
"They (FRA inspectors) do more blitzes than they used to, where several
inspectors will show up in a place and stay for a couple days," the manager
added.
(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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