Authors: U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

Date of Publication:  August 1973

Sponsoring Agency:  U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

Performing Organization:  U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

Report No: NTSB-RSS-73-1

Abstract:

This report records the results of a study by the National Transportation Safety Board of the October 2, 1972, accidental derailment of a BART train and of the significant management and institutional approaches used to achieve safety as they influence this system.  The subject matter in this report includes organizational contract structure, safety criteria in specifications, safety responsibility, the use of the fail-safe design concept, and the difficult role of the State commission responsible for authorizing operation of the system in revenue service.  The purpose of focusing attention on the cause and effect impact of this subject matter on the safety of the BART hardware system is to make this experience available to other municipalities who are implementing or are contemplating the development of a new rail rapid transit system.  The report recommends abandonment of the fail-safe concept, and an organized disciplined approach to accomplishing rapid transit system safety, through the application of current safety management and engineering concepts.
 

No. of Pages:  42