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U.S.Department of Transportation Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm News

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2/29/08 DOT Digest: FRA Announces Guide for Managing Gap Safety at Passenger Rail Platforms

Contact: Warren Flatau
Telephone: 202-493-6024

Friday, February 29, 2008 (Washington, DC)

FRA Announces Guide for Managing Gap Safety at Passenger Rail Platforms.  The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a guidance document to help minimize accidents due to gaps between the edge of a passenger station platform and the threshold of a passenger train door.  FRA Approach to Managing Gap Safety addresses the use of engineering evaluation and analysis to establish gap standards and the application of strategies to prevent and reduce gap accidents.  While most gap incidents involving rail passengers result in relatively minor injuries, FRA believes the most effective way to address the potential risks is for railroads to develop and adopt a comprehensive program to manage gap hazards, and establish and maintain uniform gap and boarding conditions.  A copy of the full document can be found at http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/1963.  Contact:  Warren Flatau (202) 493-6024.

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