Off the Rails
After a Boston Green Line train derailed October 2024, I got curious: Does the Green Line derail as often as it seems? With most news stories focused on immediate derailments, I created a visual story zooming out on ten years of derailment data. Fortunately, things might not be as bad as they seem. Full story here.
Data & Sources: FTA Major Safety Events, APTA Ridership Reports, MBTA Internal Reports, NTSB Derailment Reports, Local News Reports
Presented At: Northeastern University Impact Symposium 2025
Finding Missing Links
Initially filled with vague descriptions and missing details (e.g., passengers involved, speed of vehicle), the main dataset was carefully supplemented with news reports, internal presentations, and safety organization findings.
Visualizing Derailment Factors
MBTA internal reports cited human factors as “probable cause in >40% of derailments [from 1999-2018].” Although derailments can result from a myriad of factors, there continue to be derailments from red light running and unauthorized track movement.
Aiming to reach everyday commuters, the visual story explained train operations such as right-of-way and track switches. Read the full story here.
A (Slow) Silver Lining
The Green Line isn’t exactly the fastest train, averaging 12.6 mph. Most derailments happen at around that speed, with injuries only occurring at faster speeds—which trains weren’t supposed to be going at anyway.
