Evaluation of options for improving Amtrak\u2019s passenger accountability system

010515682763106882005Final ReportPDFTech ReportDOT-VNTSC-FRA-05-08; DOT/FRA/ORD-05/06RR93/CB043Cost effectivenessCostsPassengersRailroad accidentsRailroad safetyTrain crewsAmtrakU.S. Federal Railroad AdministrationU.S. National Transportation Safety BoardAccountabilityEmergency responseUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Railroad AdministrationMauri, RonaldMergel, JosephJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)United States. Federal Railroad AdministrationUnited States. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Innovative Technology AdministrationNTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-RAIL TRANSPORTATIONNTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-Rail Planning and PolicyNTL-RAIL TRANSPORTATION-Rail SafetyNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Rail SafetyVolpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference CenterIn investigating the derailment of Amtrak's Auto Train on April 18, 2002, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that an accurate count of persons on the train at the time of the accident was not available at the accident scene. NTSB noted that emergency response would be improved with accurate count data at the accident scene and issued a Safety Recommendation to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) that it develop and implement an accurate passenger and crew accountability system. This report assesses the weaknesses in Amtrak\u2019s passenger accounting system, the costs of improving it, and the potential safety and business benefits of an improved system. It finds that while technically feasible, the recommendation is impractical given Amtrak\u2019s business model and would not provide the desired safety benefits. It also identifies alternative improvements to Amtrak\u2019s passenger accounting system that can be the basis for future cost-effective Amtrak initiatives