Unfortunately, trespassing on railroad property is a growing problem in Washington State as well as nationwide. In 1997, for the first time ever, more people were killed in railroad trespass incidents in the United States than were killed in crossing collisions with trains. The WUTC is actively involved with Operation Lifesaver in programs aimed at reducing the growing trespass problem. Another category of railroad accidents involves derailments. A derailment occurs when one or more than one unit of rolling stock equipment leaves the rails during train operations for a cause other than collision, explosion, or fire.
Collision is another category of accident.
Collisions involve any impact of two or more pieces of railroad on-track equipment, or impact between railroad equipment and foreign equipment. Derailment and collision-type accidents usually result in very few fatalities or injuries. In 1995, there were no fatalities and a total of eight injuries. In 1996, there were no injuries or fatalities. In 1997, two railroad employees were injured when their high rail equipment was involved in a head-on collision.