Railway Concerns & Train Horn Violations

Freight rail lines within the City of Torrance are owned and operated by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) and Union Pacific Railroad respectively.

The Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad tracks cross through residential areas located just north of the roadway intersection of Madrid Avenue/Torrance Boulevard and continues through the city south of the roadway intersection of Western Avenue/Sepulveda Boulevard. There are nine at-grade crossings in Torrance – including one pedestrian crossing within this area. 

Union Pacific Railroad operates rail lines that run through residential areas along Dominguez Way north of Satori Avenue and extends eastward to the Western Avenue/Torrance Boulevard intersection. This route includes nine at-grade crossings.

The City of Torance has no authority/jurisdiction over railways or its property which falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), with assistance from the California Public Utilities Commission. However, train operations such as idling locomotives can sometimes contribute significant emissions. In such cases, the Southern California Air Quality Management District will monitor and enforce air quality regulations.

REPORTING A COMPLAINT 

There are three channels by which to make a complaint about the railways 

• Federal Railroad Administration – Submit a complain via (FRA Alleged Violation Reporting Form)
• BNSF Railway – Submit a complaint via the (BNSF Railway Contact Form) or call toll-free at 1-800-832-5452
• Union Pacific Railroad - Submit a complaint via (UP Response Management Communication Center) or call 1-888-877-7267

BACKGROUND ON QUIET ZONE 

A Quiet Zone is a designated section of rail line, spanning at least one-half mile, where train horns are not routinely sounded at one or more consecutive public highway-rail grade crossings. The Federal Railroad Administration permits the silencing of routine horn use at highway-rail crossings if an approved safety system or procedure, has been implemented with appropriate traffic control authority, and is deemed an effective substitute. Los Angeles County has three cities that have implemented rail safety enhancements that provided the cities with the opportunity to establish Quiet Zones. The cities of Glendale, City of Industry, and Pomona have established quiet zones.   

Railroad Crossing Safety Enhancements

The establishment of a Quiet Zone requires the implementation of various supplemental safety measures to ensure public safety while reducing routine train horn noise. These enhancements include:

• Raised median to deter vehicles from driving around lowered gates
• Coordinated traffic signals to eliminate the danger of vehicles stalling on the tracks
• Additional crossing gate arms to deter motorists from crossing the tracks when a train is passing
• New warning devices, including flashers and bells, and improved signs to warn drivers and pedestrians of upcoming train tracks
• New swing gates and gate arms to deter pedestrians from trespassing and crossing the tracks illegally

Once these safety measures are in place, a city can apply to the Federal Railroad Administration for Quiet Zone designation. In an approved Quiet Zone, locomotive horns are not routinely sounded at crossing unless an emergency situation arises. 

Why do we Still Hear Trains in the Quiet Zone?

The establishment of a Quiet Zones does not mean train horns will never be heard. Quiet Zones means that locomotive engineers are not required to routinely sound the horn when approaching crossings. However, there are several situations where a train horn may still be used, including but not limited to:

• Malfunctioning of crossing warning devices such as lights, gates, and bells
• Crossing warning devices temporarily out of service for repair, testing, or maintenance
• Railroad or contract employees are working on or near the tracks
• A need to alert pedestrians, drivers, trespassers, animals or other train crews
• Passenger trains using the horn to signal departure
• The locomotive engineer determining that sounding the horn is necessary to prevent imminent injury, loss of life, or property damage

Additionally, the Quiet Zone does not restrict the use of locomotive bells, which continue to ring as trains pass through crossings as an extra safety measure. Each public crossing within a Quiet Zone must also have fully operational flashing lights, ringing bells, and gates that lower to temporarily block traffic as per federal law mandates that these warning devices function properly at all times.

How to Report a Train Horn Violation?

If you believe a train horn has been improperly sounded, you can file a Violation Report with the Federal Railroad Administration, the agency responsible for overseeing railroad operations.

Under federal regulations established by Federal Railroad Administration in 2005, locomotive engineers are required to sound the train horn 15 to 20 seconds before entering a public highway-rail grade crossing when traveling below 45 mph. The rule specifies the required volumes, length, and pattern of the horn. The mandated train horn pattern consists of two long, one short, and one long blast, repeated as necessary until the train fully occupies the crossing. Locomotive engineers may alter this pattern for crossings in close proximity or in emergency situations. 

To report a violation, complete the FRA Alleged Violation Reporting Form. The form requires details such as the location and railroad owner, which you can find by entering the address near the alleged violation into the FRA’s interactive map: https://fragis.fra.dot.gov/GISFRASafety/. The map provides crossing numbers, crossing data, and mileposts. Crossings where train horns are used are marked with yellow dots, and the number next to these dots is the crossing number, which may be required in your report.

When filing the complaint, you will need to provide:

• Date and time of the incident
• A description of the alleged violation
• Your contact information
• Any additional relevant information

LOCATION MAP

To view a map of the locations of all of the railroad crossing locations in Torrance, please click here: At Grade Railroad Crossings in the City of Torrance.  

SAFETY AT RAILROAD CROSSINGS

Staying clear of railroad tracks is essential for your safety. Never walk along or use tracks as a pathway. It is both dangerous and illegal. Doing so may prompt the locomotive engineer to sound the horn as a warning.

When approaching a railroad crossing, do not drive too close to the crossing gates. Always stop at the designated “Stop Here” signs to avoid a traffic violation. If an engineer sees a vehicle positioned too close to the gate, they will sound the horn to alert the driver of the approaching train.

Locomotive engineers are required to use the horn in the following situations:

• When automatic warning and traffic signals are malfunctioning or out of service
• If there is a safety concern at a station (through the engine bell is routinely used when arriving and departing)
• When construction crews are working within or near the railroad right-of-way in emergency situations
• If a trespasser is on the tracks

HELPFUL RESOURCES 

• Federal Railroad Administration – The “Train Horn” Final Rule Summary
• Federal Railroad Administration - The Train Horn Rule and Quiet Zones
• Federal Railway Administration – Region 7 Information
• Southern California Air Quality Management District - Information

PROJECT CONTACT

For questions, please contact the Public Works Department – Engineering Division at (310) 781-6900 or at publicworkinfo@torranceca.gov.