Findings from Investigation into Maspeth Train Collision Finally Released

After requesting that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) investigate last year’s fiery train collision in Maspeth, Queens, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that the agency has released its review of the incident.

The crash occurred on July 8, 2015 when a freight train operated by New York and Atlantic Railway (NYA) slammed into a tractor-trailer at the railroad crossing on Maspeth Avenue.

The FRA’s probe concluded that the locomotive engineer failed to follow NYA’s operating rules and special instructions for the grade-crossing. The FRA found that the conductor’s failure to take any action to bring the train under control contributed to the accident.

The FRA also identified several safety issues that could increase the risk of additional accidents and close calls that NYA needs to address, including:

• Failure to provide and document adequate training and testing of locomotive engineers and conductors
• Failure to issue certificates for the engineer and conductor
• Faulty recordkeeping software
• The need for several actions to improve grade-crossing safety for motor vehicle users

“The FRA’s findings are very disturbing,” said Meng, whose Congressional district encompasses Maspeth. “NYA cut corners which put lives at risk. The faulty recordkeeping, inadequate training, unclear certification and need for grade crossing safety is indicative of other troubling practices at NYA, and we’re lucky that more accidents have not occurred with trains that the company operates. The lack of clear records certainly explains why it has been so difficult for me to get answers about NYA’s practices in the past. The FRA’s findings are obviously unacceptable, and the way NYA functions must change. I call for all of the FRA’s recommendations to be fully implemented and I will continue to monitor the situation until these essential improvements are made. Another accident cannot be allowed to occur and public safety cannot remain at risk. I thank the FRA for its work and for being responsive to my call for the investigation.”

Meng made multiple calls for the FRA’s findings to be promptly released so that appropriate safety improvements could be put in place. She has also been in touch with all stakeholders since the accident took place. Her most recent request for the findings to be issued came in June when she sent a letter to the head of the FRA. A copy of that letter can be viewed here.

The FRA’s report is here.