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8/6/2024
Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) and the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) today announced their joint participation in the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Confidential Close-Call Reporting System (C3RS).
Under a one-year pilot program, dispatchers at NS can report safety concerns with the certainty that such reports will not result in discipline. NASA will de-identify submitted safety concerns and a joint committee of NS, ATDA and FRA representatives will review the submissions and recommend corrective actions to improve safety, according to an NS press release.
In January, NS — in conjunction with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division — announced the first pilot program in the C3RS.
"This is another step in our journey to become the gold standard of safety in the rail industry," said NS President and CEO Alan Shaw. ”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.”
In April, BNSF Railway Co. and ATDA announced they had agreed to join the FRA’s close-call reporting system. ATDA President Ed Dowell encouraged other Class Is to join, as well.
“All Class I railroads and their workers stand to benefit from the C3RS program, and FRA remains fully committed to expanding participation in this program even further,” Dowell said.