2008 Woodie Awards
CSX train safety goes off-track
by Lauren DeZinno
Issue date: 4/10/07 Section: News
The Federal Railroad Administration recently released a report stating the CSX corporation, the company which operates the trains that run through the university's campus, violated a series of safety regulations during its January inspection.
CSX, based out of Jacksonville, Fla., services 23 states and covers more than 21,000 miles. Although the FRA's inspection followed derailments in New York, Kentucky and West Virginia, Delaware has not yet incurred such accidents.
Michael Ward, CSX chief executive, stated on the company's Web site that the company is trying to eliminate safety concerns.
"Safety is our top priority and we welcome the FRA's inspections and insights," Ward said. "We are committed to working closely with FRA on all safety issues."
Mayor Vance A. Funk III said CSX's efforts in keeping the city safe has been stellar.
"Their involvement with the students at the university during the past two years is better than it has ever been before," Funk said.
He said members of CSX have set up booths at various campus events, such as last semester's Community Day and at basketball games. They hand out fliers and T-shirts encouraging the practice of railroad safety.
Sophomore Ciana Gingola, who lives in Ivy Hall Apartments, said she had no idea the CSX corporation was undergoing inspection for the failure of safety regulations.
"It makes me nervous, but I'm not going to move because of it," Gingola said.
She said the company needs to be more responsible.
"They obviously need to fix their trains and their tracks because it's just not safe for all the people who live near the railroad tracks," Gingola said.
Funk said CSX is doing everything it can to maintain a safe environment for residents whose homes are located near the tracks.
"I've been down on the tracks for different reasons periodically over the last five years and the tracks are in really good shape," he said. "They may have problems with the tracks in other areas, but I do not see any signs of that here."
CSX, based out of Jacksonville, Fla., services 23 states and covers more than 21,000 miles. Although the FRA's inspection followed derailments in New York, Kentucky and West Virginia, Delaware has not yet incurred such accidents.
Michael Ward, CSX chief executive, stated on the company's Web site that the company is trying to eliminate safety concerns.
"Safety is our top priority and we welcome the FRA's inspections and insights," Ward said. "We are committed to working closely with FRA on all safety issues."
Mayor Vance A. Funk III said CSX's efforts in keeping the city safe has been stellar.
"Their involvement with the students at the university during the past two years is better than it has ever been before," Funk said.
He said members of CSX have set up booths at various campus events, such as last semester's Community Day and at basketball games. They hand out fliers and T-shirts encouraging the practice of railroad safety.
Sophomore Ciana Gingola, who lives in Ivy Hall Apartments, said she had no idea the CSX corporation was undergoing inspection for the failure of safety regulations.
"It makes me nervous, but I'm not going to move because of it," Gingola said.
She said the company needs to be more responsible.
"They obviously need to fix their trains and their tracks because it's just not safe for all the people who live near the railroad tracks," Gingola said.
Funk said CSX is doing everything it can to maintain a safe environment for residents whose homes are located near the tracks.
"I've been down on the tracks for different reasons periodically over the last five years and the tracks are in really good shape," he said. "They may have problems with the tracks in other areas, but I do not see any signs of that here."
Be the first to comment on this story