INSIDER
Norfolk Southern tops third-quarter expectations with a boost from insurance and rail sales
Read full article: Norfolk Southern tops third-quarter expectations with a boost from insurance and rail salesNorfolk Southern railroad’s streamlined operations delivered strong earnings last quarter, even excluding boosts from insurance payouts related to the disastrous derailment in East Palestine and the sale of two rail lines.
Judge approves $600 million settlement for residents near fiery Ohio derailment
Read full article: Judge approves $600 million settlement for residents near fiery Ohio derailmentA federal judge has approved a $600 million class-action settlement involving last year's disastrous derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Norfolk Southern sets salary and bonus for newly promoted CEO after firing Alan Shaw
Read full article: Norfolk Southern sets salary and bonus for newly promoted CEO after firing Alan ShawNorfolk Southern said Thursday that its new CEO’s salary will jump to $1 million now that Mark George has been promoted from chief financial officer, and he will be eligible for a $2.25 million bonus and significant stock awards for performance.
Norfolk Southern fires CEO Alan Shaw for an inappropriate relationship with an employee
Read full article: Norfolk Southern fires CEO Alan Shaw for an inappropriate relationship with an employeeNorfolk Southern says it has fired CEO Alan Shaw for having an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.
Fewer than 400 households reject $600 million Ohio train derailment settlement
Read full article: Fewer than 400 households reject $600 million Ohio train derailment settlementVery few people who live near the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment opted out of a $600 million class action settlement despite reservations about whether the deal offers enough.
Norfolk Southern railroad says its CEO is under investigation for alleged ethical lapses
Read full article: Norfolk Southern railroad says its CEO is under investigation for alleged ethical lapsesNorfolk Southern's board has confirmed that the railroad's CEO Alan Shaw is under investigation for potential ethical lapses.
Railroad BNSF stresses safety but is still held back by longstanding industry issues, report finds
Read full article: Railroad BNSF stresses safety but is still held back by longstanding industry issues, report findsFreight railroad BNSF is generally striving to improve safety on a consistent basis but that message doesn’t always reach front-line workers who often don’t feel comfortable reporting safety concerns for fear of being disciplined.
East Palestine residents want more time and information before deciding to accept $600M settlement
Read full article: East Palestine residents want more time and information before deciding to accept $600M settlementSome East Palestine residents want more time and more information before they have to decide by a deadline this week whether to accept their share of a $600 million class-action settlement with Norfolk Southern over last year's disastrous train derailment.
Hidden report reveals how workers got sick while cleaning up Ohio derailment site
Read full article: Hidden report reveals how workers got sick while cleaning up Ohio derailment siteThe creeks around East Palestine, Ohio, were so badly contaminated by last year’s disastrous Norfolk Southern derailment that some workers became sick during the cleanup.
Lawsuit says Norfolk Southern's freight trains cause chronic delays for Amtrak
Read full article: Lawsuit says Norfolk Southern's freight trains cause chronic delays for AmtrakThe federal government alleges in a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern that the railroad has been causing chronic delays for Amtrak between New York and New Orleans by forcing the passenger trains to wait while its massive freight trains pass.
Norfolk Southern results complicated by derailment insurance payments, proxy fight and productivity
Read full article: Norfolk Southern results complicated by derailment insurance payments, proxy fight and productivityNorfolk Southern got a boost during the second quarter from insurance payments related to last year's disastrous East Palestine derailment, but it also made progress in reducing its expenses and getting more efficient.
EPA watchdog investigating delays in how the agency used sensor plane after fiery Ohio derailment
Read full article: EPA watchdog investigating delays in how the agency used sensor plane after fiery Ohio derailmentThe EPA's internal watchdog will investigate why the agency didn’t get its specialized plane loaded with advanced sensors into the air over East Palestine until four days after the disastrous Norfolk Southern derailment last year.
NTSB derailment investigation renews concerns about detectors, tank cars and Norfolk Southern
Read full article: NTSB derailment investigation renews concerns about detectors, tank cars and Norfolk SouthernThe National Transportation Safety Board’s daylong hearing on a 2023 Ohio train derailment near the Pennsylvania border is giving stakeholders plenty to think about.
NTSB chair says Norfolk Southern interfered with derailment probe after botching vent-and-burn call
Read full article: NTSB chair says Norfolk Southern interfered with derailment probe after botching vent-and-burn callNational Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy says Norfolk Southern repeatedly tried to interfere with the investigation into the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment and shape its conclusions about what the agency called a flawed decision to blow open five tank cars and burn the vinyl chloride inside.
Railroads must provide details of hazardous cargo immediately after a derailment under new rule
Read full article: Railroads must provide details of hazardous cargo immediately after a derailment under new ruleA new federal rule aims to ensure first responders can find out what hazardous chemicals are on a train after a derailment, so they can respond appropriately.
Norfolk Southern said ahead of the NTSB hearing that railroads will examine vent and burn decisions
Read full article: Norfolk Southern said ahead of the NTSB hearing that railroads will examine vent and burn decisionsDays before the National Transportation Safety Board is set to explain why first responders were wrong to blow open five tank cars and burn the toxic chemical inside after the East Palestine derailment, Norfolk Southern said Friday it plans to lead an industrywide effort to improve the way those decisions are made.
Norfolk Southern will pay $15 million fine as part of federal settlement over Ohio derailment
Read full article: Norfolk Southern will pay $15 million fine as part of federal settlement over Ohio derailmentThe federal government agreed to a $15 million fine for Norfolk Southern over last year’s disastrous derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Judge signs off on $600 million Ohio train derailment settlement but residents still have questions
Read full article: Judge signs off on $600 million Ohio train derailment settlement but residents still have questionsA federal judge has signed off on the $600 million class action settlement over last year's disastrous Norfolk Southern derailment in eastern Ohio, but many people who live near East Palestine are still wondering how much they will end up with out of the deal.
Activist investor wins 3 Norfolk Southern board seats but won’t have control to fire CEO
Read full article: Activist investor wins 3 Norfolk Southern board seats but won’t have control to fire CEONorfolk Southern’s CEO will be under more pressure to improve profits after the railroad’s shareholders voted to elect three of the board members an activist investor nominated.
BNSF becomes 2nd major railroad to sign on to anonymous federal safety hotline for some workers
Read full article: BNSF becomes 2nd major railroad to sign on to anonymous federal safety hotline for some workersBNSF will become the second major freight railroad to allow some of its employees to report safety concerns anonymously through a federal system without fear of discipline.
Norfolk Southern's earnings offer railroad chance to defend its strategy ahead of control vote
Read full article: Norfolk Southern's earnings offer railroad chance to defend its strategy ahead of control voteNorfolk Southern's first-quarter earnings report Wednesday gave the railroad the opportunity to publicly defend CEO Alan Shaw's strategy again before investors decide on May 9 whether to back him.
Lawyers want East Palestine residents to wait for details of $600 million derailment settlement
Read full article: Lawyers want East Palestine residents to wait for details of $600 million derailment settlementThe lawyers who negotiated a $600 million settlement with Norfolk Southern over that railroad's disastrous 2023 derailment in eastern Ohio want residents to talk with them before deciding the historic deal isn't enough.
Norfolk Southern agrees to $600M settlement in fiery Ohio derailment. Locals fear it’s not enough
Read full article: Norfolk Southern agrees to $600M settlement in fiery Ohio derailment. Locals fear it’s not enoughNorfolk Southern has agreed to pay $600 million in a class-action lawsuit settlement related to a fiery train derailment in February 2023 in Ohio.
AP Exclusive: EPA didn't declare a public health emergency after fiery Ohio derailment
Read full article: AP Exclusive: EPA didn't declare a public health emergency after fiery Ohio derailmentOfficials say the aftermath of last year’s fiery train derailment in eastern Ohio doesn’t qualify as a public health emergency because widespread health problems and ongoing chemical exposures haven’t been documented.
Pennsylvania train crash highlights shortcomings of automated railroad braking system
Read full article: Pennsylvania train crash highlights shortcomings of automated railroad braking systemThe collision of three Norfolk Southern trains in Pennsylvania early this month highlights the shortcomings of the automated braking system that was created to prevent such crashes.
Norfolk Southern alone should pay for cleanup of Ohio train derailment, judge says
Read full article: Norfolk Southern alone should pay for cleanup of Ohio train derailment, judge saysA federal judge has ruled that Norfolk Southern alone will be responsible for paying for the cleanup after last year's fiery train derailment in eastern Ohio.
Latest freight railroad layoffs and Wall Street pressure renew concerns about safety and service
Read full article: Latest freight railroad layoffs and Wall Street pressure renew concerns about safety and serviceThe latest rail layoffs this week, combined with an investment fund's ongoing campaign for control of Norfolk Southern, are renewing concerns among unions and regulators about all the cuts hurting safety and service.
Norfolk Southern urges shareholders to reject activist investor's takeover plan at the railroad
Read full article: Norfolk Southern urges shareholders to reject activist investor's takeover plan at the railroadNorfolk Southern wants its shareholders to back its current management team and strategy and reject a bid from a group of investors to take control of the railroad.
Railroads say they're making safety changes to reduce derailments after fiery Ohio crash
Read full article: Railroads say they're making safety changes to reduce derailments after fiery Ohio crashThe major freight railroads all promised safety improvements after the fiery derailment in eastern Ohio a year ago, but they have yet to make meaningful safety improvements and reform efforts have stalled in Congress.
A year on, a small Ohio town is recovering from a fiery train derailment but health fears persist
Read full article: A year on, a small Ohio town is recovering from a fiery train derailment but health fears persistDaily life largely returned to normal for the nearly 5,000 residents of East Palestine, Ohio, months after a Norfolk Southern train derailed and spilled a cocktail of hazardous chemicals that caught fire a year ago.
Biden accepts mayor's invitation to visit East Palestine, Ohio, a year after train derailment
Read full article: Biden accepts mayor's invitation to visit East Palestine, Ohio, a year after train derailmentPresident Joe Biden has accepted an invitation from the mayor of East Palestine, Ohio, to visit the community after it was devastated by a fiery train derailment nearly one year ago.
Norfolk Southern is 1st big freight railway to let workers use anonymous federal safety hotline
Read full article: Norfolk Southern is 1st big freight railway to let workers use anonymous federal safety hotlineAbout 1,000 Norfolk Southern engineers and conductors will soon be able to report safety concerns anonymously through a federal system without any fear of discipline.
Norfolk Southern's fourth-quarter profit falls 33% as Ohio derailment costs continue to grow
Read full article: Norfolk Southern's fourth-quarter profit falls 33% as Ohio derailment costs continue to growNorfolk Southern's fourth-quarter profit fell 33% because of the ever growing costs of the cleanup of last year's fiery derailment in eastern Ohio.
Norfolk Southern to end relocation aid right after one-year anniversary of its fiery Ohio derailment
Read full article: Norfolk Southern to end relocation aid right after one-year anniversary of its fiery Ohio derailmentNorfolk Southern railroad plans to stop paying relocation aid to people displaced by last February's fiery derailment in eastern Ohio right after the one-year anniversary of the crash.
Norfolk Southern investing in more automated inspection systems on its railroad to improve safety
Read full article: Norfolk Southern investing in more automated inspection systems on its railroad to improve safetyNorfolk Southern has installed the first of what will be more than a dozen of a new generation of automated inspection portals on its tracks in Ohio — not far from where one of its trains derailed in February and spilled hazardous chemicals that caught fire.
Biden says Norfolk Southern must be held accountable for Ohio derailment but won't declare disaster
Read full article: Biden says Norfolk Southern must be held accountable for Ohio derailment but won't declare disasterPresident Joe Biden ordered federal agencies to continue holding Norfolk Southern accountable for its February derailment in eastern Ohio and appoint a FEMA official to oversee East Palestine's recovery, but he stopped short of declaring a disaster.
Railroads work to make sure firefighters can quickly look up what is on a train after a derailment
Read full article: Railroads work to make sure firefighters can quickly look up what is on a train after a derailmentThe railroad industry is trying to make sure that emergency responders can quickly look up what is on a train quickly when they respond to a derailment.
Norfolk Southern announces details of plan to pay for lost home values because of Ohio derailment
Read full article: Norfolk Southern announces details of plan to pay for lost home values because of Ohio derailmentNorfolk Southern announced new details Monday about its plan to compensate East Palestine residents for lost home values since the fiery derailment disrupted life in the eastern Ohio town in February.
Norfolk Southern CEO promises to keep improving safety on the railroad based on consultant's report
Read full article: Norfolk Southern CEO promises to keep improving safety on the railroad based on consultant's reportNorfolk Southern's CEO pledged to continue working to improve safety after the consultant the railroad hired after the fiery Ohio derailment in February recommended making sure that safety is truly a priority at all levels and continuing many of the efforts it has already begun.
Rail whistleblowers fired for voicing safety concerns despite efforts to end practice of retaliation
Read full article: Rail whistleblowers fired for voicing safety concerns despite efforts to end practice of retaliationLawyers and unions representing rail workers say there is a clear pattern across the industry of railroads retaliating against workers who report safety violations or injuries on the job.
EPA weighs formal review of vinyl chloride, the toxic chemical that burned in Ohio train derailment
Read full article: EPA weighs formal review of vinyl chloride, the toxic chemical that burned in Ohio train derailmentThe Biden administration says it could soon launch a formal evaluation of risks posed by vinyl chloride, the cancer-causing chemical that burned in a towering plume of toxic smoke following the fiery train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Norfolk Southern content with minimum safety too often, regulators say after fiery Ohio derailment
Read full article: Norfolk Southern content with minimum safety too often, regulators say after fiery Ohio derailmentRegulators say Norfolk Southern has made improvements since a fiery Ohio derailment but still falls well short of being the “gold standard for safety” it is striving to be.
6 months after the East Palestine train derailment, Congress is deadlocked on new rules for safety
Read full article: 6 months after the East Palestine train derailment, Congress is deadlocked on new rules for safetyCongress responded to the fiery train derailment in eastern Ohio earlier this year with bipartisan alarm at railroad crashes causing potential disasters.
Norfolk Southern changes policy on overheated bearings, months after Ohio derailment
Read full article: Norfolk Southern changes policy on overheated bearings, months after Ohio derailmentA minor coal train derailment in Virginia in early July prompted Norfolk Southern to rethink the way it responds to problems with overheating bearings.
Norfolk Southern says cost of fiery Ohio derailment doubles to $803 million as cleanup continues
Read full article: Norfolk Southern says cost of fiery Ohio derailment doubles to $803 million as cleanup continuesThe costs associated with Norfolk Southern's fiery February derailment in Ohio have more than doubled to $803 million as the railroad works to clean up the mess and moves forward with all the related lawsuits.
Railroad industry sues to block limit on crew sizes that Ohio imposed after E. Palestine derailment
Read full article: Railroad industry sues to block limit on crew sizes that Ohio imposed after E. Palestine derailmentThe railroad industry has sued to block a new minimum crew-size requirement that Ohio imposed after a fiery train derailment in East Palestine in February.
Norfolk Southern says other companies should share blame in fiery Ohio derailment
Read full article: Norfolk Southern says other companies should share blame in fiery Ohio derailmentNorfolk Southern says the owner of the rail car that caused the fiery Ohio derailment in February failed to properly maintain it in the years before the crash.
Safety concerns dominate Norfolk Southern railroad CEO's job since Ohio derailment
Read full article: Safety concerns dominate Norfolk Southern railroad CEO's job since Ohio derailmentNorfolk Southern’s CEO has spoken often of safety and better service since he took the job over a year ago, but it’s safety that has dominated discussions after one of his trains derailed and caught fire in February in Ohio.
States clamp down on freight trains, fearing derailments and federal gridlock
Read full article: States clamp down on freight trains, fearing derailments and federal gridlockSpurred on by train derailments, some states crisscrossed by busy freight railroads aren’t waiting for federal action to improve safety.
Response to fiery Ohio derailment frustrated by poor communication and incomplete information
Read full article: Response to fiery Ohio derailment frustrated by poor communication and incomplete informationOfficials say firefighters who responded to February’s fiery train derailment in Ohio struggled to immediately identify the hazardous chemicals the train was hauling due to poor communication from the railroad.
New rule would make all railroads alert first responders within 10 miles of derailed train cargo
Read full article: New rule would make all railroads alert first responders within 10 miles of derailed train cargoFederal regulators want first responders to a train derailment to know exactly what they are dealing with even before they reach the scene.
Train engineers union reaches first sick-time deal with Norfolk Southern railroad
Read full article: Train engineers union reaches first sick-time deal with Norfolk Southern railroadThe union that represents railroad engineers has finally secured its first deal for paid sick time with Norfolk Southern.
Senate panel OKs rail-safety bill; railroad vows to help homeowners affected by Ohio derailment
Read full article: Senate panel OKs rail-safety bill; railroad vows to help homeowners affected by Ohio derailmentA Senate panel has approved a rail-safety measure in response to the train derailment earlier this year in East Palestine, Ohio.
Rail CEO repeats derailment apologies before Ohio Senate
Read full article: Rail CEO repeats derailment apologies before Ohio SenateNorfolk Southern’s CEO has reiterated apologies for the East Palestine train derailment and toxic chemical release as well as vows to make things right during his first testimony at the Ohio Legislature since the fiery accident.
Justice Department sues Norfolk Southern over derailment
Read full article: Justice Department sues Norfolk Southern over derailmentThe federal government has filed a lawsuit against railroad Norfolk Southern over environmental damage caused by a train derailment on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border that spilled hazardous chemicals into nearby creeks and rivers.
Union Pacific 2nd railroad to drop push for one-person crews
Read full article: Union Pacific 2nd railroad to drop push for one-person crewsUnion Pacific has become the second major freight railroad in the past week to back away from the industry's longstanding push to cut train crews down to one person as lawmakers and regulators increasingly focus on rail safety following last month's fiery derailment in Ohio.
Safety board: Alabama derailed train lacked needed couplers
Read full article: Safety board: Alabama derailed train lacked needed couplersFederal investigators say a Norfolk Southern train that derailed in Alabama earlier this month lacked required alignment control couplers and a company inspection didn't identify their absence.
Ohio sues Norfolk Southern over toxic train derailment
Read full article: Ohio sues Norfolk Southern over toxic train derailmentOhio has filed a lawsuit against railroad Norfolk Southern to make sure it pays for the cleanup and environmental damage caused by a fiery train derailment on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border last month.
Railroad CEO 'sorry,' but avoids specifics at Senate hearing
Read full article: Railroad CEO 'sorry,' but avoids specifics at Senate hearingNorfolk Southern’s CEO is apologizing to Congress and pledging millions of dollars to help East Palestine, Ohio, recover from last month's fiery train derailment.
Norfolk Southern CEO 'deeply sorry,' as senators ready probe
Read full article: Norfolk Southern CEO 'deeply sorry,' as senators ready probeThe chief executive of one of the nation’s largest railroads is preparing to tell a Senate committee he is “deeply sorry” for the fiery derailment last month on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.
Norfolk Southern announces safety upgrades amid derailments
Read full article: Norfolk Southern announces safety upgrades amid derailmentsNorfolk Southern says it plans to improve the use of detectors along the tracks that are supposed to spot overheating bearings and other problems in the wake of a fiery Ohio derailment a month ago.
Norfolk Southern to pay millions for derailment: governor
Read full article: Norfolk Southern to pay millions for derailment: governorGov. Josh Shapiro says Norfolk Southern has pledged several million dollars to cover the cost of the response and recovery in Pennsylvania after last month’s derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals just across the border in Ohio.
20 cars of Norfolk Southern cargo train derail in Ohio
Read full article: 20 cars of Norfolk Southern cargo train derail in OhioAbout 20 cars of a Norfolk Southern cargo train derailed near Springfield Saturday evening, the second derailment of the company’s trains in Ohio in a month, officials said.
Railroad CEO to testify in Congress about Ohio derailment
Read full article: Railroad CEO to testify in Congress about Ohio derailmentThe CEO of Norfolk Southern railroad will testify in Congress next week about last month's fiery Ohio derailment and the precautions the railroad takes to prevent similar crashes.
Ohio senators introduce rail safety bill after fiery crash
Read full article: Ohio senators introduce rail safety bill after fiery crashA bipartisan group of U.S. senators has proposed legislation that would make railroads, like the one involved in last month’s fiery crash and toxic chemical release in Ohio, subject to a series of new federal safety regulations and financial consequences.
Railroads urged to examine track detectors after Ohio crash
Read full article: Railroads urged to examine track detectors after Ohio crashFederal regulators are urging freight railroads to reexamine the way they use and maintain the detectors along the tracks that are supposed to spot overheating bearings in the wake of the fiery Ohio derailment and several other recent crashes where faulty bearings are suspected to be the cause.
White House urging higher fines for train safety violations
Read full article: White House urging higher fines for train safety violationsThe White House is calling on congressional Republicans to increase the fines levied on rail companies for safety violations in the wake of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Train crew had little warning before Ohio wreck, probe finds
Read full article: Train crew had little warning before Ohio wreck, probe findsThe crew operating a freight train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, didn’t get much warning before dozens of cars went off the tracks, and there is no indication that crew members did anything wrong.
Buttigieg urges safety changes after fiery Ohio derailment
Read full article: Buttigieg urges safety changes after fiery Ohio derailmentTransportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wants the nation’s freight railroads to immediately act to improve safety while regulators try to strengthen safety rules in the wake of a fiery derailment in Ohio that forced evacuations when toxic chemicals were released and burned.
Southside company using artificial intelligence to make railways safer
Read full article: Southside company using artificial intelligence to make railways saferTransportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sent a letter Sunday to the CEO of Norfolk Southern, warning that the freight rail company must “demonstrate unequivocal support for the people” of East Palestine, Ohio, and surrounding areas after a fiery train derailment led to the release of chemicals and residents expressing concerns about their health.
Buttigieg warns Norfolk Southern to support Ohio community
Read full article: Buttigieg warns Norfolk Southern to support Ohio communityTransportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is warning the CEO of Norfolk Southern that the freight rail company must “demonstrate unequivocal support for the people” of East Palestine, Ohio, and surrounding areas.
White House defends response to Ohio toxic train derailment
Read full article: White House defends response to Ohio toxic train derailmentThe Biden administration is defending its response to a freight train derailment in Ohio that left toxic chemicals spilled or burned off, even as local leaders and members of Congress demanded that more be done.
Chemical train derailments have happened in recent years, but could the Ohio disaster happen in Jacksonville?
Read full article: Chemical train derailments have happened in recent years, but could the Ohio disaster happen in Jacksonville?That accident is prompting questions in Jacksonville where trains with tanker cars constantly cross the St. Johns River. And there have been problems in the past.
EPA chief at train derailment site: 'Trust the government'
Read full article: EPA chief at train derailment site: 'Trust the government'The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is trying to assure residents forced from their homes by a toxic train derailment in Ohio nearly two weeks ago that testing shows the air and water are now safe.
Upset Ohio town residents seek answers over train derailment
Read full article: Upset Ohio town residents seek answers over train derailmentResidents of the Ohio village upended by a freight train derailment packed a school gym to seek answers about whether they are safe from toxic chemicals that spilled or were burned off.
Fiery Ohio derailment raises railroad safety questions
Read full article: Fiery Ohio derailment raises railroad safety questionsOfficials are asking about railroad safety after a fiery derailment in Ohio generated a huge plume of smoke and forced evacuations in a small town because of concerns about the toxic chemicals the train was carrying.
Toxic gases connected to Ohio train derailment cause concern
Read full article: Toxic gases connected to Ohio train derailment cause concernA big fireball and billowing smoke rose into the sky when officials released and burned toxic chemicals from the wreckage of a derailed train in an Ohio village.
Officials urge evacuation near derailment, fearing explosion
Read full article: Officials urge evacuation near derailment, fearing explosionOfficials monitoring the smoldering, tangled wreckage of a train derailment in Ohio have warned hundreds of nearby residents who had declined to evacuate to do so immediately, citing concerns about a potential explosion.
US economy grew 3.2% in Q3, an upgrade from earlier estimate
Read full article: US economy grew 3.2% in Q3, an upgrade from earlier estimateShrugging off rampant inflation and rising interest rates, the U.S. economy grew at an unexpectedly strong 3.2% annual pace from July through September, the government reported Thursday in a healthy upgrade from its earlier estimate of third-quarter growth.