What impacts will the derailment and toxic chemical leak in the United States have?

• The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has announced the formation of a dedicated team to investigate the cause of the accident. Some investigators told reporters that train crew members received an alert about a mechanical axle failure shortly before the incident. Whether human error occurred, or whether defects existed in the train or track, remains under investigation. It is expected that this accident will result in casualties, property damage, and localized ecological disasters, triggering insurance claims, multiple lawsuits, and delayed follow-up reporting. In the future, the incident may be adapted into various artistic and literary works. • Several local residents have already filed lawsuits demanding that Norfolk Southern establish health monitoring systems in Ohio and Pennsylvania, cover medical examinations and related care costs for residents within a 30-mile radius of the derailment site, and assume liability for future damages. • A 2016 audit by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Inspector General [4] found that DOT inspectors imposed overly lenient penalties on shippers and carriers violating hazardous materials safety regulations—and failed to refer cases for criminal prosecution, contrary to agency requirements. The DOT stated that these issues have been resolved over the past several years, and that it has indeed issued more fines annually; however, it remains unclear how many cases were referred for criminal prosecution. • Reports indicate abnormal deaths among chickens, dogs, foxes, and other animals over one hundred miles from the derailment site, along with symptoms such as headaches and diarrhea among people. As a result, the 30-mile radius may expand. However, some of these symptoms and deaths could instead be attributable to COVID-19 or avian influenza. Fish and frogs dying in local streams may be linked to vinyl chloride exposure. West Virginia’s governor previously issued a water safety alert regarding the Ohio River—though subsequent testing confirmed the water met safety standards. • Eventually, the official investigation report may attribute the accident to a combination of factors: aging or faulty equipment, insufficient maintenance, isolated operator errors or violations, and systemic safety management gaps. • Approximately one billion tons of hazardous materials are transported annually by rail across the U.S., with even greater volumes shipped by road. Roughly 10% of U.S.-produced vinyl chloride undergoes transportation. In 2021, North America saw approximately 20,000 rail shipments of vinyl chloride. • Since October 2022, Ohio has experienced three freight train derailments. • On February 13, 2023, a train collided with a freight truck near Splendora, Montgomery County, Texas. The truck driver died, 21 railcars derailed—including some carrying small quantities of chemicals [5]—and diesel fuel leaked from the truck. • Over the past decade, hazardous materials have spilled or leaked from U.S. trains more than 5,000 times [6], including 172 incidents involving harmful substance releases due to derailments. In recent years, U.S. railroads have implemented technological upgrades—such as improved crashworthiness and temperature regulation—and phased out older railcars. Meanwhile, U.S. crude oil transport by rail peaked in 2015 and has since declined, contributing to an overall decline in rail accident rates compared to historical levels [7]. However, derailments now constitute a larger share of total accidents: historically averaging around 10%, they accounted for nearly 25% of all U.S. rail accidents in 2022. This incident may heighten public concern over rail safety and spur demands for stronger safety measures. • Certain environmental and animal welfare advocates may respond slowly—but then revisit and reiterate this incident repeatedly over the coming decades.

U.S. railways are privately owned, and—in theory—only build profitable lines. So why is the total length of U.S. railways longer than China’s?

Operations According to data from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), 32 agencies operate commuter rail services nationwide. Some manage their own trains directly, while others outsource passenger service operations. Major commuter rail systems include: the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad in New York and Connecticut; Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) Rail; Virginia Railway Express (VRE); Metra in the Chicago region; and Metrolink in the Los Angeles area. Half of all commuter rail systems operate at least partially on tracks owned by freight rail companies; approximately 25% of total commuter rail mileage runs on tracks owned either by freight railroads—or, in the case of the Northeast Corridor (NEC), by Amtrak. Before operating on freight-owned tracks, commuter and freight operators sign voluntary agreements governing cooperation, covering matters such as scheduling, track access, and train frequency. Such partnerships have significantly expanded commuter rail service: the number of U.S. commuter rail systems has grown from six 40 years ago to 27 today. Using this definition, independently operated commuter rail mileage totals roughly 6,000 miles. Urban rail transit systems, naturally, operate on entirely independent infrastructure. (This goes without saying.) Adding these figures yields a total of 101,790 miles (163,815.13 km). North American railroads are classified into three tiers: Class I, II, and III. Class II and III railroads collectively form the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA). Its introduction states: About ASLRRA Overview: Founded in 1913, ASLRRA proudly represents entrepreneurial owners and operators of short-line and regional railroads across North America. These ~600 small businesses play a vital role in hub-and-spoke transportation networks—typically providing the ‘first mile/last mile’ logistics links between farmers, manufacturers, and end consumers. Service Coverage: Collectively, short-line railroads operate 50,000 miles of track—nearly 30% of the entire U.S. rail network—and handle roughly one-fifth of all railcar movements in the national system at origin or destination points. Their track mileage has grown from 8,000 miles in 1980 to today’s 50,000 miles. They serve all 48 contiguous U.S. states—from forests and inland heartlands to coalfields. In some states, short-line railroads control 100% of the rail network; in 15 states, they operate over 50% of the state’s rail mileage. They transport diverse commodities, including chemicals, food, aggregates (e.g., gravel and construction materials), and intermodal freight. This figure is clearly an estimate. A relatively precise statistic available elsewhere indicates 10,335 miles for Class II railroads and 37,165 miles for Class III—totaling 47,500 miles.

North American Chemical Rail Traffic Up 5.7% YoY

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North American chemical rail traffic increased 5.7% year-over-year to 51,297 carloads for the week ended Oct. 31, according to the Association of American Railroads.

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