Derailed: Investigating the US railroad industry
Video duration 24 minutes 52 seconds
After a train derailment in Ohio, Fault Lines investigates whether the railroad industry has put profit before safety.
On the evening of February 3, a freight train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio.
The railway company caused a controlled explosion of the chemicals, raising questions about the effects on health and the environment. Thousands of local aquatic animals died and residents are concerned about developing long-term health problems.
The train derailment in eastern Palestine has raised questions about the safety culture in the US rail industry, with federal investigators saying the toxic chemical spill and train derailment could have been prevented.
During our research, Fault lines spoke to employees of major railways, who described how their jobs have been impacted by a business strategy that puts profit before safety.