(The Center Square) – Two years after a toxic train crash in East Palestine, federal bipartisan rail safety legislation is getting a push from Ohio state lawmakers.
A recently introduced bipartisan resolution in the State House calls on Congress to pass the Reducing Accidents in Locomotives Act, which supporters say addresses critical safety issues in the nation’s rail system prompted by the East Palestine derailment.
“The tragedy in East Palestine made it painfully clear that we need stronger safeguards in our rail system to protect our communities,” said Sen. Casey Weinstein, D-Hudson. “The Rail Act is a necessary and timely response to ensure that we are not only addressing the immediate safety concerns but also making long-term improvements. By requiring better inspections, two-person crews, and stronger safety measures, we are prioritizing the well-being of the public and people who live near these railways. This bipartisan legislation is a step in the right direction to restore the public’s trust in our railroads and make sure these kinds of disasters never happen again.”
U.S. Reps. Emilia Sykes, D-Ohio, and Michael Rulli, R-Ohio, introduced the act in Congress. It would increase inspections for all trains, increase penalties for safety violations and require two-person crews on all Class I freight and passenger trains.
It would also require the transportation secretary to implement safety rules based on the National Transportation Safety Board’s findings, specifically targeting wheel bearing failures.
At about 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 3, 2023, 53 Norfolk Southern train cars derailed in East Palestine, leading to a vent and burn of toxic chemicals.
At a public hearing in June in East Palestine, National Transportation and Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy called Norfolk Southern’s attempts to sway the investigation unprecedented and reprehensible.
She reiterated the board’s finding that the eventual vent and burn following the crash was unnecessary, and the report said the crash could have been avoided.
It blamed the crash that forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 residents on the wheel bearing of rail car 23, which caught fire, causing the axle to fall off and derail the train.
The final report confirmed initial findings released a year ago and previously reported by The Center Square.
“Ohioans are used to seeing trains every day and being stopped at a crossing is routine, but what isn’t common is realizing the danger that is running on those rails,” said state Rep. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield. “The residents of East Palestine deserve to have better safeguards in place, to ensure that these tragedies never happen again and the Rail Act, much like Ohio’s Rail Safety Act, will go a long way to making sure safety is always the priority.”
