For Fiscal Year 2015, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will collect 75 percent of all civil penalties it issued to railway companies for violating federal safety regulations – a 6 percent increase over FY 2014, and the largest percentage rate ever collected by the agency. The total amount of civil penalties in FY 2015, USD 15 million, increased by 12 percent compared to the previous year.
“Safety must be the number one priority for every railroad, and the Department of Transportation will continue to take aggressive action against railways who fail to follow safety rules. A strong safety enforcement program is critical to prevent accidents, save lives and move our country forward,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said.
FRA’s collection rate is the highest in the agency’s history and significantly higher than previous years.
Last year, more than 6,485 railway company violations resulted in civil penalties. The largest portion of those violations, 29 percent, was for motive power and equipment violations, followed by 26 percent for track violations.
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