Each of the 65 collisions were selected from a total of 124 collisions investigated
by FRA between January 1997 and December 2002. The Collision Analysis Working
Group (CAWG) members were selected, and reviewed each collision against
the following criteria resulting in the 49 subject cases:
- Each collision
must have occurred during mainline operations, (eliminating yard operations).
- Except for Amtrak
operations, each collision must have involved a train that had at least
two crewmembers on the locomotive consist, (eliminating switching operations).
- Each collision
must have involved a train exceeding it's authority by passing a Stop
Signal, failing to comply with a signal requiring restricted speed or
by entering territory without train order, track warrant or direct traffic
control authority, (eliminating vandalism and most adjacent track cases).