A New York congressional subcommittee is expected to begin hearings on railroad safety in Western and Central New York by the end of the month.

Congressman Jim Walsh pushed for the hearings after two separate incidents this year.

One was the fatal crash involving a freight train and a car that killed a couple in Rochester.

The other was a close call between an Amtrak train and a CSX freight train near Syracuse.

Walsh says the subcommittee wants to hear from railroad officials about the age and maintenance of signaling systems and about operating practices.