PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD

RAIL ABBREVIATED FORM

PTSB Case No. Property Name Accident Date 10303 Rail Road July 24, 2009

Injuries Fatalities Accident Type Accident Cause

0 0 Collision Passed Stop Signal

Location Borough, City, Village, Town

On Friday, July 24, 2009, at approximately 9:45 p.m., (LIRR) equipment train #3453 struck (side swiped) LIRR passenger train #149 at switch #803 in the Harold Interlocking located west of the in Queens. Train #3453 was proceeding westbound on Port Washington Track #1 when the engineer failed to stop at signal #800w which was displaying a stop indication. The event recorder download from the head car of train #3553 shows the train was traveling at a speed of 36 MPH when the engineer placed the master controller into brakes in emergency. The train struck westbound LIRR passenger train #149, which was traveling westbound at 15 MPH from Main line track #3 switching to Port Washington Track #1 over switch #803. Due to the converging track configuration, contact was limited to the left front corner of the lead car #7087 on train #149 and the side of car #7577 on train #3453. At the time of the accident, there were approximately 210 passengers onboard train #149 and no passenger’s onboard equipment train #3453. There were no reports of injuries to the passengers or crew.

Train #149 consisted of 12 M-7 cars and left Babylon, at 8:41 p.m. The PSCC train director, who controls the train movements west of Jamaica Station, set the route for train # 149 from station track #2 to mainline track #3. The engineer of train #149 stated when interviewed, that after departing Woodside Station, he checked his route and accelerated to a speed not exceeding 15 mph until he was told to stop by the Tower Director. The engineer of train #149 claimed that he never felt the impact of train #3453 with his train.

Train # 3453 consisted of ten M-7 coach cars and departed at 8:59 p.m. bound for Hunterspoint Avenue in Queens. The engineer stated that as he entered Harold interlocking he thought he saw something moving on the track ahead and was momentarily distracted. The engineer also stated he thought that he had an approach indication on signal #800w, but wasn’t sure. The engineer further stated that when he looked back, he saw train #149 ahead and immediately placed the master controller into emergency braking position but the train proceeded past the stop signal striking train #149.

At approximately 11:15 p.m., the passengers onboard train #149 were moved to the rear cars on the train and transferred to a reach train which came up behind the incident train on main line track #3. The passenger transfer was reported complete and without any incident at 11:24 p.m. At 11:33 p.m., the reach train was given permission to return to Jamaica Station and off load the passengers. The engineers of both trains submitted to a FRA drug and alcohol tests and the results were negative. Post accident inspection of the switches and signals by the LIRR signal and maintenance of way personnel revealed that all LIRR equipment was working as intended. The weather on at the time of the accident was clear and around 70 degrees. The PTSB does not believe weather to be a factor in this accident. The damaged cars from each train were removed to the Hillside Maintenance Repair facility for further inspection and repair. The total estimate for all the repairs to LIRR equipment damaged in this accident was over $25,000.

The Public Transportation Safety Board staff finds that the most probable cause of the collision was the failure of the engineer of train #3547 to stop at signal #800w that was displaying a stop indication. The engineer was charged by the Long Island Rail Road with violation of Operating Department Rule #292, passing a fixed signal displaying stop, and accepted a suspension of 30 days.

The Public Transportation Safety Board staff concurs with the actions taken by the Long Island Rail Road in regard to this accident and makes no further recommendations.

Investigated by Approved Date David Hess Jerry Shook October 29, 2009