Analysis of Factors Affecting Train Derailments

22 23 Implementation of highway-rail grade crossing warning systems, educational programs and 24 research on crossings have all contributed to a steady reduction in the risk to highway users of 25 grade crossings over the past several decades. Much less attention has been given to 26 understanding the effect of grade crossings on train safety and risk. Collisions at highway-rail 27 grade crossings can have serious consequences for the public and the railroads alike, especially 28 in the form of train derailments. The goal of this research is to identify and understand the factors 29 leading to these derailments. This paper focuses on three factors affecting train derailments at 30 highway-rail grade crossings. An examination of the effect of highway vehicle type on 31 derailment occurrence showed that large highway vehicles, such as tractor-semitrailers, cause a 32 disproportionate number of derailments but that vehicle size does not affect derailment severity. 33 Examinations of highway vehicle collision speed and train collision speed showed that 34 derailments are more likely to occur at higher vehicle speeds and lower train speeds. 35 36