BNSF Railway's Safety Culture Criticized for Shortcomings

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined that a fatal Amtrak derailment in Montana in 2021 was caused by worn and poorly maintained train tracks that were not properly inspected. The NTSB report cites a lack of safeguards against high workloads and fatigue for safety-related employees, as well as a "shortcoming" in the safety culture of BNSF Railway, which controls the track. The passengers' injuries were exacerbated by the lack of restraints in the train cars, leading the NTSB to recommend higher standards for windows and the possibility of installing seat belts. The NTSB also recommends equipping all trains with autonomous monitoring systems to detect track defects.