Rail safety in the US is being jeopardised for the sake of shareholder profit, union representatives have told E&T in the wake of February’s Ohio train derailment and environmental disaster.
The unions claims that record rail profits have come at the expense of the environment, human health and the wider economy, with the rail industry moving 20 per cent less freight last year than it did in 2016.
Earlier this year, a train owned by Norfolk Southern derailed in the town of East Palestine leading to the open-air burning of around 100,000 gallons (around 440,000 litres) of toxic vinyl chloride.
The US Justice department, and the State of Ohio are suing Norfolk Southern, with Ohio describing the accident as one in a “long string” of derailments and hazardous material incidents involving the company. Some of Norfolk Southern’s shareholders are also suing the rail company. They accuse the railroad of defrauding them by prioritising profit over safety.
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