Railroad deaths totaled 893 in 2005, comparable to the 2004 total 895, but a 7% decrease from the 1996-2004 average of 963 according to a 2007 study published by the National Safety Council. They report that in 2005, there was a 4% decrease in fatalities at highway-rail crossings over the prior year, but fatalities from other types of incidents increased by 2% from 526 in 2004 to 537 in 2005. The latter included 473 deaths, or 88%, to trespassers.

Deaths to passengers on trains totaled 16, thus reaching a 10-year high, up from 3 deaths in 2004 and the nine-year average of 6.

The National Safety Council also reported that every railroad-related death, there are typically 10 nonfatal cases of reportable injuries and illnesses. In 2005, railroad accidents resulted in 9,066 cases of nonfatal conditions, compared to 9,071 in 2004 and the 1996-2004 average of 11,055. Eleven percent of the total was attributed to highway-rail crossing incidents, which declined by 9% over the 2004 total pf 1,090 and by 22% over the 1996-2004 average of 1,261.