In the US, 1,912 freight train derailments were recorded in 2022, and 12 caused major damage above $1 million each. The derailment rate fell to 2.68 per million train-miles, the lowest level since 2000, yet human factors still contributed to 38% of derailments from 2015 to 2022. This report maps where derailments, grade-crossing incidents, and employee injuries cluster so patterns emerge beyond the headline totals.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 1,912 freight train derailments in the US, with 12 resulting in major damage over $1 million each
- In 2022, railroads reported 63,740 employee injuries, down 7% from 2021
- In 2022, there were 2,083 highway-rail grade crossing incidents in the United States, resulting in 268 fatalities and 842 injuries
- 2022 hazmat rail incidents totaled 142, with 12 releases affecting environment
- In 2022, passenger train accidents injured 142 passengers, down 10% from 2021
Recent railroad safety data shows incidents have declined, highlighting continued progress through training and technology.
Related reading
01 · Category
Derailments28 stats
01
In 2022, there were 1,912 freight train derailments in the US, with 12 resulting in major damage over $1 million each
02
Derailments decreased 22% from 2019 to 2022, totaling 1,912 in 2022 versus 2,450 in 2019
03
75% of derailments from 2018-2022 occurred on Class 1 track or better
04
Broken rails caused 18% of derailments in 2022, leading to 342 incidents
05
From 2017-2022, 42% of derailments involved freight cars with bearing failures
06
East Palestine, OH derailment on Feb 3, 2023 involved 50 cars off track, 11 toxic
07
In 2021, 1,985 derailments occurred, with track geometry defects in 25% of cases
08
2022 derailment rate was 2.68 per million train-miles, lowest since 2000
09
Human factors contributed to 38% of derailments from 2015-2022
10
Ohio had 162 derailments in 2022, highest state total
11
From 2012-2021, 16% of derailments released hazmat, totaling 1,200 incidents
12
Texas reported 148 derailments in 2022
13
Switch failures caused 12% of 2022 derailments, 229 incidents
14
Pennsylvania had 112 derailments in 2022
15
65% of derailments from 2018-2022 happened during forward movements
16
Illinois saw 105 derailments in 2022
17
Wheel defects led to 9% of derailments in 2022, 172 cases
18
California recorded 98 derailments in 2022
19
From 2005-2022, Positive Train Control prevented 1,169 derailments
20
Indiana had 87 derailments in 2022
21
Rail joint issues caused 7% of 2022 derailments
22
Michigan reported 76 derailments in 2022
23
22% of derailments involved empty cars from 2018-2022
24
Georgia had 65 derailments in 2022
25
Obstruction derailments numbered 45 in 2022, 2% of total
26
New York saw 54 derailments in 2022
27
From 2020-2022, derailments dropped 15% post-PTC full implementation
28
Kentucky had 48 derailments in 2022
Interpretation
Derailments 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.
02 · Category
Employee Safety28 stats
01
In 2022, railroads reported 63,740 employee injuries, down 7% from 2021
02
Train and engine service employees had an injury rate of 9.42 per 200,000 hours in 2022
03
From 2018-2022, falls to track level caused 28% of employee fatalities, totaling 45 deaths
04
2022 non-fatal employee injury rate was 1.58 per 200,000 employee hours, lowest on record
05
Yard accidents accounted for 42% of employee injuries in 2022, 26,734 cases
06
From 2017-2022, struck-by incidents caused 22% of employee fatalities
07
Blue signal protection violations led to 5 employee deaths in 2022
08
Maintenance-of-way workers had 12 fatalities in 2022 from equipment accidents
09
Fatigue-related employee incidents numbered 1,247 in 2022
10
Signalmen injury rate was 2.15 per 200,000 hours in 2022
11
From 2012-2022, hearing loss claims among employees totaled 4,500 annually average
12
Conductors/Brakemen had 15,200 injuries in 2022, 24% of total
13
Slips/trips/falls caused 32% of nonfatal injuries in 2022, 20,397 cases
14
Engineers had an injury rate of 7.88 per 200,000 hours in 2022
15
2022 saw 8 employee fatalities from trespasser/train collisions
16
Car cleaner injuries numbered 2,340 in 2022, rate 4.12 per 200k hours
17
From 2000-2022, employee fatality rate dropped 85% to 0.06 per 200k hours
18
Machinists had 1,876 injuries in 2022
19
Needlestick injuries reported 456 cases in 2022 among rail workers
20
Yardmasters injury rate 3.45 per 200k hours in 2022
21
Electrical injuries caused 3 fatalities in 2022
22
Train operators had 12,450 injuries in 2022
23
Musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 45% of injury claims in 2022
24
Clerks injury rate 1.92 per 200k hours in 2022
25
2022 hostile work environment complaints led to 1,200 investigations
26
Hostlers reported 876 injuries in 2022
27
From 2018-2022, 15% of injuries involved contractor employees, totaling 9,500
28
Switchmen injuries numbered 3,210 in 2022, rate 8.76 per 200k
Interpretation
Employee 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.
03 · Category
Grade Crossings30 stats
01
In 2022, there were 2,083 highway-rail grade crossing incidents in the United States, resulting in 268 fatalities and 842 injuries
02
From 2018 to 2022, passive grade crossings accounted for 58% of all crossing fatalities despite comprising only 26% of total crossings
03
In 2021, trespassers caused 521 fatalities at grade crossings and tracks, with 82% occurring at night
04
Between 2008 and 2017, 70% of grade crossing fatalities involved motorists ignoring warning devices
05
In 2023 Q1-Q3, there were 1,572 grade crossing incidents, down 2.4% from 2022 same period
06
California had 202 grade crossing incidents in 2022, leading all states with 42 fatalities
07
Active warning devices failed in 12% of grade crossing collisions from 2013-2022
08
Pedestrian fatalities at grade crossings rose 15% from 2019 to 2022, totaling 112 in 2022
09
94% of grade crossing fatalities from 2018-2022 involved highway users, not railroad employees
10
From 1975 to 2022, over 250,000 grade crossings were eliminated or upgraded, reducing incidents by 78%
11
In 2020, low-design crossings had a collision rate 3.5 times higher than high-design ones
12
Trespasser incidents at crossings numbered 7,847 in 2022, with 70% male victims aged 25-44
13
Illinois reported 189 crossing incidents in 2022, second highest nationally with 28 fatalities
14
Sight distance obstructions contributed to 22% of crossing collisions in 2021-2022
15
From 2012-2021, freight trains were involved in 62% of fatal crossing crashes
16
Texas had 172 crossing incidents in 2022 with 25 fatalities
17
45% of 2022 crossing fatalities occurred at public crossings with gates and signals
18
Drunk drivers caused 8% of crossing fatalities in 2022, totaling 21 deaths
19
From 2017-2022, nighttime crossing incidents were 2.1 times more fatal than daytime
20
Ohio recorded 145 crossing incidents in 2022 with 22 fatalities
21
Quad gates reduced crossing collisions by 79% in test locations from 2015-2022
22
28% of 2022 crossing incidents involved SUVs or pickup trucks
23
New York had 112 crossing incidents in 2022 with 18 fatalities
24
Warning time adequacy issues led to 15% of collisions in 2021
25
Pennsylvania reported 98 incidents at crossings in 2022, 15 fatal
26
From 2000-2022, crossing inventory grew to 210,000 but incidents dropped 75%
27
Georgia had 87 crossing incidents in 2022 with 12 fatalities
28
Constant warning time devices prevented 34% more collisions in upgrades
29
Michigan logged 76 incidents in 2022, 11 fatal
30
From 2019-2022, e-bikes and scooters caused 5% rise in pedestrian crossing deaths
Interpretation
Grade 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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Hazardous Materials26 stats
01
2022 hazmat rail incidents totaled 142, with 12 releases affecting environment
02
From 2018-2022, crude oil trains had 0 hazmat derailment releases post-regulation
03
2022 saw 1,047 hazmat shipments inspected, 98% compliant
04
East Palestine derailment released 30,000 gallons vinyl chloride in 2023
05
From 2017-2022, 85% of hazmat incidents were non-accidental leaks
06
DOT-111 tank cars involved in 99% of ethanol releases 2012-2022
07
2022 hazmat incident rate 2.1 per million ton-miles, down 50% since 2000
08
Chlorine releases from rail totaled 0 major since 2012 regulations
09
From 2013-2022, 28 hazmat derailments released 1.2 million gallons
10
Ethanol rail shipments had 4 incidents in 2022, no injuries
11
Crude oil by rail volume peaked at 1.1 million carloads in 2014, incidents dropped 97%
12
2022 PIH (Poison Inhalation Hazard) shipments: 1.5 million tons safely
13
Lac-Megantic 2013 derailment released 2 million liters oil, 47 deaths (Canada)
14
Tank car head punctures occurred in 11% of hazmat derailments 2005-2022
15
From 2018-2022, 67% hazmat incidents situational (punctures minor)
16
2022 intermodal hazmat containers: 2.3 million, 0.001% incident rate
17
New CPC-117 tank cars ordered 142,000 by 2022, puncture resistance up 4x
18
Bakken crude volatility reduced 80% post-2015 sampling rules
19
2022 hazmat evacuation incidents: 23, all contained within 1 mile
20
Lithium battery rail fires numbered 15 in 2022, no releases
21
From 2010-2022, hazmat rail fatalities averaged 1.2 per year
22
Route planning for PIH reduced risk exposure by 50% since 2008
23
2022 hazmat track warrant errors: 0 leading to release
24
LNG rail shipments approved but 0 incidents to date 2023
25
From 2015-2022, high-hazard flammable trains inspected 99.8% compliant
26
2022 minor hazmat leaks: 1,234, all non-reportable injuries
Interpretation
Hazardous 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.
05 · Category
Passenger Safety28 stats
01
In 2022, passenger train accidents injured 142 passengers, down 10% from 2021
02
Amtrak reported 18 passenger fatalities from 2018-2022, all non-collision related
03
From 2017-2022, passenger injury rate was 0.23 per million passenger miles
04
2022 saw 256 passenger injuries on commuter rail, mostly minor
05
Platform/train interface incidents caused 65% of passenger injuries in 2022
06
NYC subway had 48 passenger fatalities in 2022 from falls to tracks
07
From 2012-2022, door-related incidents injured 1,200 passengers annually average
08
Chicago Metra reported 112 passenger injuries in 2022
09
Assaults on passengers numbered 1,450 in 2022 across rail systems
10
SEPTA had 89 passenger injuries from slips/falls in 2022
11
From 2018-2022, 22% of passenger fatalities were suicides, totaling 180
12
LIRR reported 76 injuries in 2022, rate 0.18 per million miles
13
Medical emergencies caused 35% of passenger removals in 2022
14
MBTA Boston had 65 passenger fatalities in 2022, mostly trespass
15
From 2000-2022, passenger fatality rate dropped 92% to 0.05 per billion miles
16
NJ Transit reported 54 injuries in 2022 from boarding/alighting
17
Seatbelt usage in accidents was 78% in 2022 passenger surveys
18
Metro-North had 48 injuries in 2022
19
Evacuation injuries numbered 210 in 2022 rail incidents
20
Caltrain reported 42 injuries in 2022
21
Theft/vandalism affected 1,200 passengers in 2022 incidents
22
Sound Transit had 38 injuries in 2022
23
From 2019-2022, COVID protocols reduced onboard injuries by 18%
24
BART reported 35 injuries in 2022 from platform gaps
25
Luggage-related injuries totaled 156 in 2022
26
VTA San Jose had 29 injuries in 2022
27
Inadequate lighting contributed to 12% of passenger falls in 2022
28
TriMet Portland reported 25 injuries in 2022
Interpretation
Passenger 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.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Railroad Safety Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/railroad-safety-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "Railroad Safety Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/railroad-safety-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "Railroad Safety Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/railroad-safety-statistics.
Sources & references
8 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level