Picture the average day in America, where the simple act of crossing the railroad tracks on your daily commute hides a startling statistic: in 2022 alone, these crossings were the scene of 2,083 incidents leading to hundreds of tragic deaths and injuries.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 2,083 highway-rail grade crossing incidents in the United States, resulting in 268 fatalities and 842 injuries
- From 2018 to 2022, passive grade crossings accounted for 58% of all crossing fatalities despite comprising only 26% of total crossings
- In 2021, trespassers caused 521 fatalities at grade crossings and tracks, with 82% occurring at night
- In 2022, there were 1,912 freight train derailments in the US, with 12 resulting in major damage over $1 million each
- Derailments decreased 22% from 2019 to 2022, totaling 1,912 in 2022 versus 2,450 in 2019
- 75% of derailments from 2018-2022 occurred on Class 1 track or better
- In 2022, railroads reported 63,740 employee injuries, down 7% from 2021
- Train and engine service employees had an injury rate of 9.42 per 200,000 hours in 2022
- From 2018-2022, falls to track level caused 28% of employee fatalities, totaling 45 deaths
- In 2022, passenger train accidents injured 142 passengers, down 10% from 2021
- Amtrak reported 18 passenger fatalities from 2018-2022, all non-collision related
- From 2017-2022, passenger injury rate was 0.23 per million passenger miles
- 2022 hazmat rail incidents totaled 142, with 12 releases affecting environment
- From 2018-2022, crude oil trains had 0 hazmat derailment releases post-regulation
- 2022 saw 1,047 hazmat shipments inspected, 98% compliant
Despite recent improvements, US railroad safety challenges persist at crossings and tracks.
Derailments
1In 2022, there were 1,912 freight train derailments in the US, with 12 resulting in major damage over $1 million each
Verified2Derailments decreased 22% from 2019 to 2022, totaling 1,912 in 2022 versus 2,450 in 2019
Verified375% of derailments from 2018-2022 occurred on Class 1 track or better
Verified4Broken rails caused 18% of derailments in 2022, leading to 342 incidents
Directional5From 2017-2022, 42% of derailments involved freight cars with bearing failures
Single source6East Palestine, OH derailment on Feb 3, 2023 involved 50 cars off track, 11 toxic
Verified7In 2021, 1,985 derailments occurred, with track geometry defects in 25% of cases
Verified82022 derailment rate was 2.68 per million train-miles, lowest since 2000
Verified9Human factors contributed to 38% of derailments from 2015-2022
Directional10Ohio had 162 derailments in 2022, highest state total
Single source11From 2012-2021, 16% of derailments released hazmat, totaling 1,200 incidents
Verified12Texas reported 148 derailments in 2022
Verified13Switch failures caused 12% of 2022 derailments, 229 incidents
Verified14Pennsylvania had 112 derailments in 2022
Directional1565% of derailments from 2018-2022 happened during forward movements
Single source16Illinois saw 105 derailments in 2022
Verified17Wheel defects led to 9% of derailments in 2022, 172 cases
Verified18California recorded 98 derailments in 2022
Verified19From 2005-2022, Positive Train Control prevented 1,169 derailments
Directional20Indiana had 87 derailments in 2022
Single source21Rail joint issues caused 7% of 2022 derailments
Verified22Michigan reported 76 derailments in 2022
Verified2322% of derailments involved empty cars from 2018-2022
Verified24Georgia had 65 derailments in 2022
Directional25Obstruction derailments numbered 45 in 2022, 2% of total
Single source26New York saw 54 derailments in 2022
Verified27From 2020-2022, derailments dropped 15% post-PTC full implementation
Verified28Kentucky had 48 derailments in 2022
VerifiedDerailments Interpretation
While the industry rightly touts a 22% drop in derailments and its lowest rate since 2000, the fact that three-quarters occur on the best tracks and human error is the leading culprit suggests our multibillion-dollar steel network is often being undone by million-dollar mistakes.
Employee Safety
1In 2022, railroads reported 63,740 employee injuries, down 7% from 2021
Verified2Train and engine service employees had an injury rate of 9.42 per 200,000 hours in 2022
Verified3From 2018-2022, falls to track level caused 28% of employee fatalities, totaling 45 deaths
Verified42022 non-fatal employee injury rate was 1.58 per 200,000 employee hours, lowest on record
Directional5Yard accidents accounted for 42% of employee injuries in 2022, 26,734 cases
Single source6From 2017-2022, struck-by incidents caused 22% of employee fatalities
Verified7Blue signal protection violations led to 5 employee deaths in 2022
Verified8Maintenance-of-way workers had 12 fatalities in 2022 from equipment accidents
Verified9Fatigue-related employee incidents numbered 1,247 in 2022
Directional10Signalmen injury rate was 2.15 per 200,000 hours in 2022
Single source11From 2012-2022, hearing loss claims among employees totaled 4,500 annually average
Verified12Conductors/Brakemen had 15,200 injuries in 2022, 24% of total
Verified13Slips/trips/falls caused 32% of nonfatal injuries in 2022, 20,397 cases
Verified14Engineers had an injury rate of 7.88 per 200,000 hours in 2022
Directional152022 saw 8 employee fatalities from trespasser/train collisions
Single source16Car cleaner injuries numbered 2,340 in 2022, rate 4.12 per 200k hours
Verified17From 2000-2022, employee fatality rate dropped 85% to 0.06 per 200k hours
Verified18Machinists had 1,876 injuries in 2022
Verified19Needlestick injuries reported 456 cases in 2022 among rail workers
Directional20Yardmasters injury rate 3.45 per 200k hours in 2022
Single source21Electrical injuries caused 3 fatalities in 2022
Verified22Train operators had 12,450 injuries in 2022
Verified23Musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 45% of injury claims in 2022
Verified24Clerks injury rate 1.92 per 200k hours in 2022
Directional252022 hostile work environment complaints led to 1,200 investigations
Single source26Hostlers reported 876 injuries in 2022
Verified27From 2018-2022, 15% of injuries involved contractor employees, totaling 9,500
Verified28Switchmen injuries numbered 3,210 in 2022, rate 8.76 per 200k
VerifiedEmployee Safety Interpretation
While there's clear progress in the overall numbers, the persistently dangerous trifecta of yards, falls, and human error reveals that making railroads safer is less about high-speed innovation and more about the grueling, ground-level work of not getting hit, tripping, or forgotten.
Grade Crossings
1In 2022, there were 2,083 highway-rail grade crossing incidents in the United States, resulting in 268 fatalities and 842 injuries
Verified2From 2018 to 2022, passive grade crossings accounted for 58% of all crossing fatalities despite comprising only 26% of total crossings
Verified3In 2021, trespassers caused 521 fatalities at grade crossings and tracks, with 82% occurring at night
Verified4Between 2008 and 2017, 70% of grade crossing fatalities involved motorists ignoring warning devices
Directional5In 2023 Q1-Q3, there were 1,572 grade crossing incidents, down 2.4% from 2022 same period
Single source6California had 202 grade crossing incidents in 2022, leading all states with 42 fatalities
Verified7Active warning devices failed in 12% of grade crossing collisions from 2013-2022
Verified8Pedestrian fatalities at grade crossings rose 15% from 2019 to 2022, totaling 112 in 2022
Verified994% of grade crossing fatalities from 2018-2022 involved highway users, not railroad employees
Directional10From 1975 to 2022, over 250,000 grade crossings were eliminated or upgraded, reducing incidents by 78%
Single source11In 2020, low-design crossings had a collision rate 3.5 times higher than high-design ones
Verified12Trespasser incidents at crossings numbered 7,847 in 2022, with 70% male victims aged 25-44
Verified13Illinois reported 189 crossing incidents in 2022, second highest nationally with 28 fatalities
Verified14Sight distance obstructions contributed to 22% of crossing collisions in 2021-2022
Directional15From 2012-2021, freight trains were involved in 62% of fatal crossing crashes
Single source16Texas had 172 crossing incidents in 2022 with 25 fatalities
Verified1745% of 2022 crossing fatalities occurred at public crossings with gates and signals
Verified18Drunk drivers caused 8% of crossing fatalities in 2022, totaling 21 deaths
Verified19From 2017-2022, nighttime crossing incidents were 2.1 times more fatal than daytime
Directional20Ohio recorded 145 crossing incidents in 2022 with 22 fatalities
Single source21Quad gates reduced crossing collisions by 79% in test locations from 2015-2022
Verified2228% of 2022 crossing incidents involved SUVs or pickup trucks
Verified23New York had 112 crossing incidents in 2022 with 18 fatalities
Verified24Warning time adequacy issues led to 15% of collisions in 2021
Directional25Pennsylvania reported 98 incidents at crossings in 2022, 15 fatal
Single source26From 2000-2022, crossing inventory grew to 210,000 but incidents dropped 75%
Verified27Georgia had 87 crossing incidents in 2022 with 12 fatalities
Verified28Constant warning time devices prevented 34% more collisions in upgrades
Verified29Michigan logged 76 incidents in 2022, 11 fatal
Directional30From 2019-2022, e-bikes and scooters caused 5% rise in pedestrian crossing deaths
Single sourceGrade Crossings Interpretation
While we've engineered remarkable safety gains by upgrading crossings over decades, the stubborn core of this preventable carnage—largely happening at night and disproportionately at passive crossings—reveals a sobering truth: our most advanced warning systems are still no match for the enduring human trifecta of impatience, impairment, and inattention.
Hazardous Materials
12022 hazmat rail incidents totaled 142, with 12 releases affecting environment
Verified2From 2018-2022, crude oil trains had 0 hazmat derailment releases post-regulation
Verified32022 saw 1,047 hazmat shipments inspected, 98% compliant
Verified4East Palestine derailment released 30,000 gallons vinyl chloride in 2023
Directional5From 2017-2022, 85% of hazmat incidents were non-accidental leaks
Single source6DOT-111 tank cars involved in 99% of ethanol releases 2012-2022
Verified72022 hazmat incident rate 2.1 per million ton-miles, down 50% since 2000
Verified8Chlorine releases from rail totaled 0 major since 2012 regulations
Verified9From 2013-2022, 28 hazmat derailments released 1.2 million gallons
Directional10Ethanol rail shipments had 4 incidents in 2022, no injuries
Single source11Crude oil by rail volume peaked at 1.1 million carloads in 2014, incidents dropped 97%
Verified122022 PIH (Poison Inhalation Hazard) shipments: 1.5 million tons safely
Verified13Lac-Megantic 2013 derailment released 2 million liters oil, 47 deaths (Canada)
Verified14Tank car head punctures occurred in 11% of hazmat derailments 2005-2022
Directional15From 2018-2022, 67% hazmat incidents situational (punctures minor)
Single source162022 intermodal hazmat containers: 2.3 million, 0.001% incident rate
Verified17New CPC-117 tank cars ordered 142,000 by 2022, puncture resistance up 4x
Verified18Bakken crude volatility reduced 80% post-2015 sampling rules
Verified192022 hazmat evacuation incidents: 23, all contained within 1 mile
Directional20Lithium battery rail fires numbered 15 in 2022, no releases
Single source21From 2010-2022, hazmat rail fatalities averaged 1.2 per year
Verified22Route planning for PIH reduced risk exposure by 50% since 2008
Verified232022 hazmat track warrant errors: 0 leading to release
Verified24LNG rail shipments approved but 0 incidents to date 2023
Directional25From 2015-2022, high-hazard flammable trains inspected 99.8% compliant
Single source262022 minor hazmat leaks: 1,234, all non-reportable injuries
VerifiedHazardous Materials Interpretation
While the overall trend in hazmat rail safety shows impressive gains in compliance, incident rates, and tank car durability—which is genuinely reassuring—the stark fact that just one catastrophic failure, like East Palestine or Lac-Megantic, can erase years of statistical progress with devastating human and environmental consequences serves as a grim reminder that the goal must always be zero.
Passenger Safety
1In 2022, passenger train accidents injured 142 passengers, down 10% from 2021
Verified2Amtrak reported 18 passenger fatalities from 2018-2022, all non-collision related
Verified3From 2017-2022, passenger injury rate was 0.23 per million passenger miles
Verified42022 saw 256 passenger injuries on commuter rail, mostly minor
Directional5Platform/train interface incidents caused 65% of passenger injuries in 2022
Single source6NYC subway had 48 passenger fatalities in 2022 from falls to tracks
Verified7From 2012-2022, door-related incidents injured 1,200 passengers annually average
Verified8Chicago Metra reported 112 passenger injuries in 2022
Verified9Assaults on passengers numbered 1,450 in 2022 across rail systems
Directional10SEPTA had 89 passenger injuries from slips/falls in 2022
Single source11From 2018-2022, 22% of passenger fatalities were suicides, totaling 180
Verified12LIRR reported 76 injuries in 2022, rate 0.18 per million miles
Verified13Medical emergencies caused 35% of passenger removals in 2022
Verified14MBTA Boston had 65 passenger fatalities in 2022, mostly trespass
Directional15From 2000-2022, passenger fatality rate dropped 92% to 0.05 per billion miles
Single source16NJ Transit reported 54 injuries in 2022 from boarding/alighting
Verified17Seatbelt usage in accidents was 78% in 2022 passenger surveys
Verified18Metro-North had 48 injuries in 2022
Verified19Evacuation injuries numbered 210 in 2022 rail incidents
Directional20Caltrain reported 42 injuries in 2022
Single source21Theft/vandalism affected 1,200 passengers in 2022 incidents
Verified22Sound Transit had 38 injuries in 2022
Verified23From 2019-2022, COVID protocols reduced onboard injuries by 18%
Verified24BART reported 35 injuries in 2022 from platform gaps
Directional25Luggage-related injuries totaled 156 in 2022
Single source26VTA San Jose had 29 injuries in 2022
Verified27Inadequate lighting contributed to 12% of passenger falls in 2022
Verified28TriMet Portland reported 25 injuries in 2022
VerifiedPassenger Safety Interpretation
While the numbers show a remarkably safe mode of travel statistically, the persistent reality of platform mishaps, assaults, and the tragic finality of falls remind us that the greatest risks often lie in the human moments between the safe miles.
Sources & References
- Reference 1SAFETYDATAsafetydata.fra.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 2RAILROADSrailroads.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 3FRAfra.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 4NTSBntsb.govVisit source
- Reference 5AARaar.orgVisit source
- Reference 6TRANSITtransit.dot.govVisit source
- Reference 7APTAapta.comVisit source
- Reference 8PHMSAphmsa.dot.govVisit source