Washington, D.C. — Following the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio early last year, railroads rapidly came together to develop a set of safety commitments informed by insight from the accident. These substantial and voluntary actions, undertaken without governmental intervention, will help prevent future incidents.

While rail already has a strong safety record, both for employees and in that it’s the safest overland freight option, it’s important for railroads to constantly evolve and close gaps where they exist.

To this end, railroads recently delivered a progress update on where their promises stand—and the headline is that, one year later, all commitments have been met or exceeded.

Increase the frequency of hot bearing detectors (HBDs) across key routes. Class I railroads have purchased and installed hundreds of additional HBDs across their key routes, with more to come online in 2024. These detectors will be complemented by additional existing and evolving technologies targeted at effectively identifying bearing defects.

Establish a new standard to stop trains and inspect bearings whenever an HBD reading exceeds 170°. Effective July 1, 2023, Association of American Railroads (AAR) rules lowered the temperature threshold to remove a railcar from 200° to 170°.

Analyze trending programs to develop uniform recommendations for proactively identifying problematic bearings. In November 2023, railroads finalized a new, industry-wide trending analysis rule following an intensive review of different algorithms by Railinc, the industry’s leading technology and data solutions partner.

Double the number of first responders with access to AskRail, which provides real-time information on railcar contents and the safe handling of those materials. Far exceeding this commitment, railroads have extended AskRail access to over 2.3 million first responders through collaboration with dispatchers in Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs) and CHEMTREC, an emergency call center for hazmat handling. This work included outreach to every ECC in the nation. Currently more than 102 ECCs are fully onboarded and another 81 are in process.

Train 20,000 first responders in local communities and 2,000 at the Security and Emergency Response Training Center (SERTC) in Pueblo, Colo. In 2023, Class I railroads trained 35,500 first responders, and SERTC offered specialized training to 1,800 responders. The Class I railroads and SERTC together have also developed additional online training programs for first responders across the nation.

Join the FRA’s voluntary program to supplement railroads’ own confidential reporting programs. Railroads remain committed to joining FRA’s C3RS program and have participated in several FRA Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) meetings to find a path forward that prioritizes the safety, confidentiality, transparency, and accountability necessary for 3RS to operate properly.

Identify ways to improve the fire performance for tank cars and other service equipment.  AAR’s tank car committee is working through engineering solutions and has issued new recommendations for bottom valve protection requirements to increase safety. This is a voluntary joint initiative between the industry and the hazmat shippers who own the tank cars.

Albany, NY — In an op-ed for the Albany Times Union, Joseph Alston of The Business Council of New York State writes:

“As Gov. Hochul has said, “Sustained commerce is the lifeblood for our regional and state economy.” Rail should be considered a core tool and partner to the officials across our state implementing CLCPA. We have seen progress in awarding state funding to freight and passenger lines, and this kind of forward thinking will benefit New York economies and communities for years to come.

But we must also get the policy environment right if we are going to encourage rail freight that cuts emissions. Let’s not freeze rail operations in the past and work against our own climate goals.”

Read the Full Op-ed.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member visits Stella-Jones’ railway tie manufacturing facility in Bangor, Wisconsin.

Rep. Van Orden gets a firsthand look at a machine that attaches end plates to the railway ties.

Bangor, Wisconsin — U.S. Representative Derrick Van Orden joined officials from the Stella-Jones Corporation on Tuesday for a firsthand look at the operations of the company’s Wisconsin facility, which treats between 1-1.6 million railroad ties annually. Stella- Jones is a key company in the development, growth, and maintenance of North America’s railroad infrastructure, helping to supply the continent’s demand for railway ties and timbers with up to 10 million pressure-treated wooden crossties per year.

Led by Stella-Jones, and joined by local officials and non-profit GoRail, the Congressman was able to view the plant’s production floor, including the cylinders where railway ties are treated. Railway ties are a critical component of the rail system’s infrastructure.

“The freight rail industry is critical to Wisconsin and the entire country’s economy, connecting businesses in the Third District to national and global markets,” said Rep. Van Orden. “If the railroad stops, America stops. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as well as the House Committee on Agriculture, I am well aware of the importance that a safe and vibrant rail industry plays in moving the economy, and it’s especially instructive to see how this industry is supported locally by businesses like Stella Jones.”

Across Stella-Jones’ 45 North American facilities, they produce wooden railway ties, utility poles and residential lumber products. The Bangor facility, which supports 86 jobs, receives raw material from over 100 sawmills. They not only supply to railroads, but are also customers of the railroads, with 40-50% of production going out by rail car with direct service by CPKC and another access point to CN Railway an hour North via truck.

“We are proud to be joined by Rep. Van Orden to demonstrate our work here, its value to this community, and how it’s in support of a much larger industry that is critical to how our economy functions. Our facility has been in the rail business for over five decades and while railroading has evolved, its role in supporting jobs and development has remained the same,” said Stella-Jones Director of Operations Liz Russell.

(L-R) Congressman Derrick Van Orden; Supervisor Mark Spears, Town of Bangor; David Kinserdahl, Stella-Jones; Emily Traiforos, GoRail Wisconsin State Director; Liz Russell, Director of Operations, Stella-Jones; Ryan Peterson, Plant Manager, Stella-Jones.

The group discussed how rail suppliers like Stella-Jones help the railroad industry innovate. They make the locomotives, railcars, components, equipment, technologies, and services that have given the United States the world’s safest, most efficient, and productive freight rail network.

The group also discussed how federal policies decided in Washington impact railroads and their suppliers, as well as the communities and businesses they support at the local level. As Congress deliberates legislation affecting railroad operations, GoRail urges policymakers to prioritize a data-driven approach that encourages private sector investment in the rail network. Regressive legislation requiring railroads to lock in present-day operational systems and practices would stifle investment and innovation, undercutting rail service and safety. In turn, suppliers and the vast economy tied to railroad operations would suffer.

“Working together, North America’s six Class I railroads and 603 short line and regional railroads move the economy, including 40% of U.S. long distance freight and a third of U.S. exports,” said Emily Traiforos, Wisconsin State Director for GoRail. “It’s vital that railroads can continue to invest in and improve their operations to meet increased demand and changing customer needs in the future.”

In Wisconsin, nine freight railroads maintain 3,482 track miles and employ over 2,700.