Category: Safety Alert
FRA Doubles Our Risk By Reducing Track Inspections
The FRA’s late-Friday decision to cut required human track inspections in half directly increases the risk for rail workers, communities, and the national network by relying more heavily on automated systems that miss many defects trained inspectors routinely catch. Read on to see how SMART-TD National Safety & Legislative Director Jared Cassity explains the dangers of this rule change, the industry motives behind it, and why every railroad worker’s safety is now more at stake.
Rail Trespassing and Suicide Fatalities Up 70%
Trespasser and suicide-related incidents now account for 50 percent of all transit-related fatalities reported in 2024. Between 2016 and 2024, these events have risen sharply, with major incidents up 71 percent, fatalities up 70 percent, and injuries up 65 percent. The Federal Transit Administration has issued new recommendations for transit agencies to confront this crisis, along with resources for railroaders who are forced to contend with the aftermath of these incidents.
NTSB Issues Two Rail Safety Alerts
This week, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued two important rail safety alerts regarding securing equipment and shoving movements. Investigators revealed recurring issues that lead to serious injury or death. Read on for details.
Semi Crushes Member in Decatur, Ill.
SMART-TD is asking all members to rally to support Brother Drew Morris, a conductor for Canadian National Railroad out of Local 453 (Clinton, IL), who was critically injured by a semi-truck that tried to race his train. Read on for details and how you can help
Spotlighting Rail Safety During See Tracks? Think Train® Week
See Tracks? Think Train® Week (September 15–21, 2025) kicks off today, drawing attention to the importance of safety near railroad tracks and trains. Hosted by Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), this week is dedicated to reducing crossing incidents nationwide while emphasizing rail safety education. Read on to learn how you can get involved.
FRA Expands Bridge Safety Oversight
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is expanding its bridge safety oversight by training 163 additional inspectors, boosting coverage from just six to 169 nationwide. SMART-TD’s National Safety and Legislative Director Jared Cassity played a key role in shaping the decision, stressing that protecting rail workers and the public depends on the structural integrity of the bridges America’s trains cross.
Cheaper to Burn Bridges than Inspect Them: Documentary Reveals Railroad Negligence
A new hard-hitting video from the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism reveals how the railroads’ widespread neglect of their bridges put our communities at risk and why that problem is about to get much worse if we don’t do something to stop it. Read on to see what we can do to spread the word.
CSX Trainee Death Exposes Glaring Safety Gaps
The NTSB has highlighted dangerous gaps in the railroad’s approach to safety and training. The agency’s findings align closely with long-standing concerns raised by SMART-TD. Read on to see how our union is accelerating steps to take matters into our own hands.