Executive Summary
- Jeremy Charles, 39, was killed by a train while clearing snow in East Lampeter Township, PA.
- The FRA confirmed the crew was using a manual "train approach warning" system with lookouts.
- The NTSB has previously criticized this method for lacking redundancy and being prone to human error.
- Federal regulators have issued a bulletin urging comprehensive training and increased oversight.
An Amtrak maintenance worker killed last month in Pennsylvania was clearing snow from a railroad switch when he was struck by a train, according to a safety bulletin released by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The fatality has prompted renewed scrutiny regarding the safety protocols used to protect maintenance-of-way employees working on active rail lines.
Jeremy Charles, 39, of Holtwood, was utilizing a backpack snow blower on tracks near Greenfield Road in East Lampeter Township on February 23 when the incident occurred. Officials noted that Charles was part of a maintenance crew and had been employed by Amtrak for four and a half years at the time of his death.
According to federal railroad officials, the crew was operating under a "train approach warning" system at the time of the accident. This method relies on designated lookouts to visually monitor for oncoming traffic and provide workers with sufficient warning to clear the tracks. The FRA bulletin highlights that this manual system was the primary protection mechanism in place during the snow clearing operation.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has previously documented significant risks associated with reliance on manual lookouts. In a 2022 statement referenced in the context of this investigation, the NTSB described the train approach warning method as "susceptible to human error" and lacking in safety redundancy. The board noted that trains often travel at speeds that can deceive workers, leaving them with inadequate reaction time if visual warnings fail.
In response to the incident, the FRA bulletin advised rail companies to ensure all personnel conducting track maintenance receive comprehensive training specifically regarding train approach warnings. Furthermore, the agency stated that railroads should conduct regular oversight to guarantee strict compliance with safety standards. Federal officials confirmed that the investigation into the February 23 incident remains active.
Regulatory Oversight & Safety Standards
The release of this safety bulletin underscores the ongoing tension between established manual safety protocols and federal recommendations for automated redundancy in the railroad industry. While the "train approach warning" system remains a standard operational practice, the NTSB's consistent citations of human error in such accidents suggest that this fatality may accelerate calls for mandatory secondary safety barriers or technology-assisted warning systems to better protect maintenance crews in high-risk environments.
