"East Palestine Train Derailment: Seeking Safety Solutions and Support"
Norfolk Southern CEO Alan H. Shaw has pledged to make his company the "gold standard" of safety in the freight industry following the East Palestine train derailment. However, union officials and railroad workers remain skeptical about the industry's direction and whether their concerns will be addressed. The Railway Safety Act of 2023, which mandates a two-person crew minimum on certain freight trains, has bipartisan support and aims to minimize derailments. While Norfolk Southern's number of derailments has decreased, the number of accidents per miles traveled has risen in the past decade. The move towards longer, heavier trains and the adoption of precision scheduled railroading (PSR) have led to layoffs and changes in job responsibilities, raising concerns among workers. Some railroaders argue that having a conductor on the train is crucial for safety, while the company explores the possibility of having a ground-based conductor.
