The Wrong Track to Rail Safety

Rail disasters are mercifully rare, so the railroad unions won’t let one go to waste. They’re seeking a mandate on crew sizes in the aftermath of a major derailment in February. But the policy has topped the union wish list for years, and it would do little to improve safety.

The crew mandate is part of the Railway Safety Act, a Senate bill aimed at tightening safety protocols after the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The bill was drafted by that state’s two Senators, Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican J.D. Vance, and much of it is reasonable. It would require railroads shipping hazardous materials to notify state emergency departments, place more heat sensors on the tracks, and boost fines for violations.