Amtrak tries anonymous reporting

Amtrak will encourage employees to anonymously report near accidents as part of a federal pilot program meant to make the rails safer.

Amtrak announced Monday that it will join a Federal Railroad Administration pilot that allows workers to confidentially report close calls that could have led to an accident or injury, but did not. Employees can report incidents without fear of discipline.

Employees at sites in the Northeast, Midwest and on the West Coast will be able to report close calls once training is completed. They will report incidents to NASA, which contracted with the FRA to process the reports. A peer review team will determine what actions should be taken to eliminate risks.

Amtrak joins the Canadian Pacific Railway, Union Pacific Railroad and New Jersey Transit in the program.

-- Associated Press