Regulatory authorities assure a thorough safety evaluation across all major freight railroads
The FRA recently completed a safety culture review of Norfolk Southern prompted by a significant derailment in Ohio. The FRA plans to conduct similar investigations at other major freight railroads in the coming year. A forthcoming report will detail the findings of the Norfolk Southern review, as well as reports on Union Pacific, BNSF, CSX, Canadian National, and Canadian Pacific Kansas City. Concerns raised by railroad unions revolve around safety implications stemming from operational changes, such as staff reductions and the use of longer trains.
The railroads, on the other hand, maintain their practices and prioritize safety and efficiency. While safety data has not indicated an inherent risk in the new operating model, the rate of accidents per million miles has shown an increase over the past decade. Regulators have advised railroads to exercise caution in assembling long trains to mitigate derailment risks, although longer trains are favored by the industry for their efficiency advantages.
The union representing nearly 9,300 workers at Canada’s top two rail companies is signaling a potential work stoppage due to stalled negotiations over working conditions and wage hikes.