James (Leggett) Kitchin of Norfolk Southern (left) and Richard Erstad of Hawkins, Inc., have joined the Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council.

Kitchin, Erstad Join RSTAC

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on March 10 reported appointing James (Leggett) Kitchin of Norfolk Southern (NS) and Richard Erstad of Hawkins, Inc., to the Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council (RSTAC). RSTAC, which

Wheelsets Suspected in NS Springfield Derailment

On March 8, following a second derailment in Ohio that did not involve a hazmat spill or any injuries, Norfolk Southern identified loose wheelsets on a series of recently acquired coil steel cars that present an increased risk of an out-of-gage-derailment. The Association of American Railroads immediately issued a service advisory instructing railroads to pull so-equipped cars from service, inspect them, and replace all wheelsets of a particular type.

PHMSA Releases Rail Emergency Preparedness Advisory

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has published a Safety Advisory Notice for railroad emergency preparedness, in response to the Feb. 3 derailment of 11 Norfolk Southern (NS) hazardous materials

“We are working around the clock to remediate the remaining issues in East Palestine. We continue to listen to the experts and cooperate with state, federal, and local government agencies. We are committed to this for as long as necessary.” —NS, via Twitter on March 9. (NS Photograph)

NS’s Shaw: ‘We Won’t Be Finished Until We Make It Right’

Ahead of a March 9 Senate hearing on Protecting Public Health in the Wake of the Norfolk Southern (NS) Derailment and Chemical Release in East Palestine, Ohio, NS President and CEO Alan

NS to Establish Ohio Training Center, Expand OAR Program

Norfolk Southern (NS) on March 8 announced that it will create a new regional training center in Ohio for first responders and expand its Operation Awareness & Response (OAR) program, which travels the company’s 22-state network and trains 5,000 first responders annually on how to respond safely to rail incidents.

“We’re proud to support construction technology that helps communities build transit projects more quickly,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

FRA: Supplemental Safety Assessment of NS Operations

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on March 7 announced its plan to conduct a 60-day supplemental assessment of Norfolk Southern (NS) following multiple safety incidents.

NTSB: ‘Special Investigation’ of NS

The National Transportation Safety Board on March 7 said it would be conducting what it’s calling a “special investigation of Norfolk Southern Railway’s organization and safety culture.” “Given the number and significance

David C. Lester Photograph

Norfolk Southern Outlines New Six-Point Safety Plan

Norfolk Southern (NS) on March 6 announced a six-point plan to immediately enhance the safety of its operations. The initiatives are based on the preliminary findings of the National Transportation Safety Board

“We’re proud to support construction technology that helps communities build transit projects more quickly,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

USDOT Marks ‘Significant Progress’ on Key Rail Safety Reforms Following NS Ohio Derailment

Following the derailment of 11 Norfolk Southern (NS) hazardous materials (hazmat) tank cars in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) says it is “marking significant early progress on its efforts to hold the rail industry accountable to work with Congress on key rail safety reforms that will improve safety for communities and rail workers in the long-term.”

AAR: Class I’s On Board With C3RS; FRA Data Points to ‘Strong Safety Record’

All seven North American Class I railroads have agreed to join the Federal Railroad Administration’s voluntary Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS), Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ian Jefferies said

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