Norfolk Southern Corporation and the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA), in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), announced Tuesday their joint participation in the FRA’s Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS). This pilot program is designed to enhance communication and transparency to help improve railroad safety.
Under the one-year C3RS pilot, dispatchers at Norfolk Southern can report safety concerns with the certainty that such reports will not result in discipline. Submitted safety concerns are de-identified by NASA and provided for review by a joint committee of NS, ATDA, and FRA representatives, who will identify and recommend corrective actions to improve safety.
In January 2024, Norfolk Southern announced the first pilot program under the FRA’s supervision in the industry, in conjunction with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division.
Participation in this C3RS pilot is further reinforcement of Norfolk Southern, ATDA, and FRA’s shared commitment to collaboration and transparency to advance safety. Key goals of the C3RS pilot program include:
- Collecting currently unreported unsafe practices, behaviors, or situations;
- Identifying and implementing corrective actions; and
- Sharing general trends and statistics to enhance railroad safety.
-via Press Release


