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Last week, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued an invitation to qualified researchers to apply for $50,000 in grant funding to initiate a study of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Acute Distress Disorder (ASD) on train crews.

Crew members sometimes suffer from the disorders and psychological trauma after being involved in grade crossing collisions or trespassing fatalities, according to the FRA.

The selected researcher will be required to develop a baseline intervention plan for reducing the effects of PTSD and ASD on train crew members, as well as create one or more programs that can be implemented by railroads in partnership with labor unions and other parties. Additional funding might be available in future years to expand the project, according to the FRA.

For more information on the effects of PTSD and ASD on train crews, follow this link to read an article (“Real life, post-trauma”) that was published in Progressive Railroading's June issue.

Meanwhile, the FRA also announced it will require 10 states with the most crossing collisions to develop action plans to reduce accidents. The agency issued a final rule mandating that Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Ohio and Texas identify specific solutions for improving crossing safety — including crossing closures or grade separations  — especially at crossings that have experienced multiple accidents or are at high risk for collisions.