Key takeaways:
- Alan Shaw is expected to discuss safety measures taken by major railroads, such as increasing the number of trackside detectors
- The National Transportation Safety Board’s initial finding into the accident found that a fire on the train was caused by a hot axle
- Norfolk Southern has committed $20 million to provide financial assistance to families affected by the toxic train incident and first responders
On Thursday, Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw is appearing before a Senate panel to answer questions about the February 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that released toxic chemicals into the environment and raised public health concerns.
Shaw is expected to discuss the measures that his railroad and other major railroads are taking to increase safety. These include increasing the number of trackside detectors meant to alert crews of problems with rail cars by sensing increased temperatures on the axles and cars.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s initial finding into the accident found that a fire on the train originally started when a rail car carrying plastic pellets was heated by a hot axle.
In addition to the safety measures, Shaw is also expected to discuss the financial assistance available for families affected by the toxic train incident and first responders. Norfolk Southern has committed $20 million to this effort.
The Senate panel hearing is part of an ongoing effort to ensure that railroads are taking all necessary steps to prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future.
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