Following Crash Of Runaway Rail Car In Utica, Set Free By Teenager, Schumer Urges Feds To Review Safety Procedures For Unattended Trains To Ensure Neighborhoods Are Protected ?
Press Release
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to review its policies and procedures surrounding unattended trains, in order to better protect residents from runaway rail cars. This comes on the heels of a July incident in Oneida County in which an unmanned train car was set free by a teenager, and proceeded to barrel three miles down the tracks through busy neighborhoods, causing a minor injury before ultimately crashing into Utica's Union Station. Schumer explained that this crash not only caused more than $1 million worth in damage, but it also put countless lives in danger despite the fact that the runaway train miraculously avoided causing serious injury or death. Schumer is urging the FRA to complete a thorough review of safety procedures and develop additional safeguards to ensure a similar event does not repeat itself.
"The fact that this accident did not seriously injure anyone is nothing short of a miracle," said Schumer. "But questions still remain over how an unattended freight car could be so easily accessed and sent barreling into a busy community. If a 13-year-old could do it with such ease, imagine what an individual wishing to inflict harm on local residents could do."
Schumer said the FRA should consider various changes to current policy, including installing locks on rail car hand brakes, requiring more redundant braking systems, and other best practices, to prevent people from being able to access a train, and send a car rolling into busy neighborhoods. In addition, Schumer is urging the FRA to then share the results of their assessment and investigation, as well as other information surrounding the incident, with Oneida County officials to ensure their concerns about the safety of residents and property are addressed.
On July 21, a parked, unattended freight car was released by a local 13-year-old and sent rolling three miles down the tracks, from under the Burrstone Road overpass all the way to Union Station in Utica. Officials report that while the teen was climbing a ladder on the side of the train, he stepped on what is called a "quick release" lever. When this happened, tension on the wheel was released, which sent the 132-ton freight car barreling down the tracks and through multiple residential neighborhoods. The rail car ultimately crashed into Union Station, causing minor injuries to one person. In addition, this crash caused more than $1 million in damage to the county-owned building. Schumer said that while, fortunately, no one was killed or seriously injured, the event raises serious concerns about how secure rail cars are and how easy it is to access them if left unattended. Schumer said although, in this case, the train was accessed by a 13-year-old who did not intend to cause harm, unattended trains pose a significant risk to nearby residents if someone wishing to cause serious destruction were to gain access to an unlocked, unmanned train car. Schumer said it could be a disastrous situation if one were to unlock a train in a similar fashion and direct it towards homes and other populated areas.
After conducting a review following the accident, the FRA concluded that all standard procedures were followed. However, Schumer explained, both he and Oneida County officials and residents find it very concerning that an accident like this could occur even when proper procedures were followed. As a result, he is calling on the FRA to conduct a review of how freight car brake systems could be more effective and whether additional safeguards are needed to protect unattended cars from trespassers. Schumer suggested locks on freight car hand brakes, to prevent people from being able to access a train, as one solution that could help prevent dangerous crashes like this again in the future. While trespassing on railroad tracks and equipment is already illegal, incidents like this make it clear that additional safeguards are needed to protect communities from runaway trains. Finally, Schumer called for enhanced communication between federal safety regulators and county officials in order to coordinate future investigations. Schumer said the results of this investigation should be made public so Oneida County officials can better protect neighborhoods and residents' property from these dangers.
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