Train Derailments

About the measures

MnDOT tracks the number of rail derailments each year. Train derailments occur when one or more wheels of a rail car or locomotive come off steel railroad tracks. Derailments are an indicator of relative safety of the railroad system, as they can cause death, serious injury, hazardous materials release, and property damage. Derailments can be caused by issues with track, equipment, signals, human error, and track obstructions.

Data source: U.S. Department of Transportation

Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan: Safety

These measures help us gauge how well MnDOT and our partners are doing the following:

Safeguarding transportation users as well as the communities the system travels through.
Applying proven strategies to reduce fatalities and serious injuries for all mode.
Fostering a culture of transportation safety in Minnesota.

Where we want to go

MnDOT rail inspectors ensure that railroad track and equipment are following federal safety regulations, which are designed to reduce equipment and track related derailments. Additionally, MnDOT invests in improvements at grade crossings to prevent train-vehicle collisions at crossings which can lead to derailments. MnDOT also maintains and updates a State Rail Plan to advance railway planning and investment.