FILE - Debris from a Norfolk Southern freight train lies scattered and burning along the tracks on Feb. 4, 2023, the day after it derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. last year that derailed their lives as another hearing gets underway, with the National Transportation Safety Board set to discuss the ongoing investigation and issue recommendations for averting future disasters.
"We will continue to pursue and advocate for these safety recommendations until each one is implemented," he said. On Tuesday, NTSB board members confirmed that a trackside detector in Salem, Ohio, failed to accurately detect the overheated rail car bearing that was on fire some 20 miles before the fiery train derailment in East Palestine last year. They further said that firefighters didn't get the details of what was on the train for more than an hour after the derailment.
More than a year ago, a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Ohio's two senators proposed a package of reforms including requiring two-person crews and setting standards for the inspections and detectors that help prevent derailments. But that bill stalled in the U.S. Senate under resistance from Republicans and the railroads. GOP leaders in the House have said they didn't want to consider new rail safety regulations until after the final NTSB report was released.
After the derailment, all the major freight railroads pledged work to improve safety by adding hundreds more trackside sensors to help spot problems like overheating bearings and by re-evaluating how they analyze the data from those detectors. The Association of American Railroads trade group said the industry will review the NTSB report and look for additional ways to improve safety.
The chemical manufacturer has declined to comment publicly beyond what its experts testified to last spring.