Norfolk Southern, American Train Dispatchers Association announce partnership in FRA pilot program to improve railroad safety

On Tuesday, Norfolk Southern Corp. and the American Train Dispatchers Association, a craft union representing members on Class 1, commuter, passenger, and shortline railroads, announced their joint participation in the Confidential Close Call Reporting System, a Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) pilot program.

The program, which aims to enhance communication and transparency with the goal of improving railroad safety, will collect unreported unsafe practices, behaviors, or situations; identify and implement corrective actions; and share general trends and statistics to enhance railroad safety.

“This is another step in our journey to become the gold standard of safety in the rail industry,” Alan Shaw, Norfolk Southern president and CEO, said. “We committed to working with our unions to make our safe railroad even safer, and we’re proud to increase engagement and feedback through this pilot program. On behalf of Norfolk Southern, I want to thank the FRA for their leadership and reiterate our shared commitment to keeping rail the safest way to move freight over land.”

Norfolk Southern dispatchers will have the ability to report safety concerns without worry the reports will result in discipline.

NASA will remove identity information from the reports. A joint committee will then review the reports, and identify and recommend corrective actions.

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