Federal Railroad Administration Data Confirm Freight Rail Achieved Record Safety Performance in 2025
The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration released 2025 data showing that freight rail accident and injury rates nationwide fell to historic lows with 40% fewer train accidents and 46% fewer derailments since 2005. Additionally, rail safety continued to improve across nearly every major category, highlighting the industry’s long-term safety trajectory. Key Highlights include:​
​
Overall train accident
rate declined 14%
year over year,
reaching the lowest
level ever recordeD
Derailments fell 13.6%
year over year,
also reaching a
historic low
Human factors–related accidents declined nearly 20%, reflecting the impact of automation, monitoring technologies, and data-driven operating practices
Equipment-caused accidents declined 12.1% while track-caused accidents fell 7.7% continuing long-term improvement trends
Class I railroads
recorded their lowest employee injury rate ever in 2025, continuing a decades-long decline in workforce injuries
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This data reinforces that sustained private investment, advanced technology deployment, and a highly trained and committed workforce are delivering real, measurable safety outcomes across the national freight rail network—strengthening supply chain reliability and supporting affordability across the economy. Even with this progress, freight railroads remain committed to continued improvement and further advancing safety performance across the system.
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To explore all of the Federal Railroad Administration's data, visit: