[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64026-64027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25157]


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NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD


Investigative Hearing

    On Wednesday, November 6, 2013, and Thursday, November 7, 2013, the 
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will convene an 
investigative hearing to gather additional factual information for the 
ongoing investigation into two Metro-North Railroad accidents that 
occurred in May 2013. The NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman will 
preside over the Investigative Hearing.
    On Friday, May 17, 2013, at 6:01 p.m. eastern daylight time, 
eastbound Metro-North Railroad passenger train 1548, (departing Grand 
Central Station, NY toward New Haven, CT) derailed near milepost 53.3 
on track number 4 and was struck by westbound Metro-North Railroad 
passenger train 1581 (departing New Haven toward Grand Central 
Station). As a result of the collision, 73 passengers, two engineers, 
and a conductor were transported to local hospitals with injuries. 
Metro-North estimated there were about 250 passengers on each train at 
the time of the accident. Metro-North estimated damage at $18.5 
million.
    On Tuesday, May 28, 2013, at 11:57 a.m. eastern daylight time, 
Metro-North Railroad passenger train 1559, traveling westbound at 70 
mph, struck and killed a track foreman working on the Metro-North New 
Haven Line, Subdivision 7, in West Haven, CT. The accident occurred at 
milepost 69.58 on main track 1. The track foreman's planned work for 
the day consisted of relocating rail segments from main track 1 to 
industrial track 5 between control points 266 and 271 near the West 
Haven Station using a locomotive crane. There were two rail traffic 
controllers (RTCs) assigned to Division G, the Division where the track 
foreman was working: (1) A qualified RTC and (2) a student RTC, who was 
training under the mentorship of the qualified RTC. The student RTC was 
receiving on-the-job training and was the RTC who applied the blocking 
devices for this work crew and issued the working authority, thus 
taking the track out-of-service.
    As a result of the West Haven accident, on June 17, 2013, the Board 
released an urgent recommendation to Metro-North to require redundant 
protection, such as shunting, for maintenance-of-way work crews who 
depend on the train dispatcher to control access to occupied sections 
of track. A shunt is a device that crews can attach to the rails in a 
work zone to alert

[[Page 64027]]

the controller and provides approaching trains a stop signal.
    The investigative hearing will discuss the following issue areas:
     Adequacy of existing Federal track inspection standards, 
and the adequacy of Metro-North's track maintenance and inspection 
program;
     Adequacy of existing Federal passenger car safety 
standards emphasizing `forward end' car requirements, and the 
crashworthiness of Metro-North's M8 railcars emphasizing the rear (B) 
end corner post and truck attachment;
     Metro-North's operational protection of track work areas; 
and
     Metro-North's organizational safety culture.
    Parties to the hearing include the Federal Railroad Administration, 
State of Connecticut Department of Transportation, Metro-North 
Railroad, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department, 
Association of Commuter Railroad Employees, Kawasaki Rail Car, 
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, Sheet Metal and Rail 
Transportation Employees, and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers 
and Trainmen.
    At the start of the hearing, the public docket will be opened. 
Included in the docket are photographs, interview transcripts, and 
numerous other documents.

Order of Proceedings

1. Opening Statement by the Chairman of the Board of Inquiry
2. Introduction of the Board of Inquiry and Technical Panel
3. Introduction of the Parties to the Hearing
4. Introduction of Exhibits by Hearing Officer
5. Overview of the incident and the investigation by Investigator-In-
Charge
6. Calling of Witnesses by Hearing Officer and Examination of Witness 
by Board of Inquiry, Technical Panel, and Parties
7. Closing Statement by the Chairman of the Board of Inquiry

    The hearing docket is DCA13MR003.
    The Investigative Hearing will be held in the NTSB Board Room and 
Conference Center, located at 429 L'Enfant Plaza E. SW., Washington, 
DC, Wednesday, November 6, and Thursday, November 7, 2013, beginning at 
9:00 a.m. The public can view the hearing in person or by live webcast 
at www.ntsb.gov. Webcast archives are generally available by the end of 
the next day following the hearing, and webcasts are archived for a 
period of 3 months from after the date of the event.
    Individuals requesting specific accommodations should contact Ms. 
Rochelle Hall at (202) 314-6305 or by email at [email protected] 
by Friday, November 1, 2013.
    NTSB Media Contact: Mr. Terry [email protected].
    NTSB Investigative Hearing Officer: Mr. Mike Flanigon_
[email protected].

    Dated: October 21, 2013.
Candi R. Bing,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-25157 Filed 10-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7533-01-P