Reducing the threat of in-transit derailments involving dangerous goods through effective placement along the train consist.

Train derailments are important safety concerns, and they become increasingly so when dangerous goods (DG) are involved. One way to reduce the risk of DG derailments is through effective DG railway car placement along the train consist. This paper investigates the relationship between DG railway car placement and derailment for different route attributes and DG shipments. A model is presented for estimating the probability of derailment by position, based on the estimated point of derailment (POD) and the number of cars derailing. A DG placement model that considers in-transit derailment risk is shown to provide a sound scientific basis for effective DG marshalling in conventional rail hump yard operations.