The Railway Supply Institute (RSI)–whose members manufacture, own and maintain the vast majority of railcars and locomotives and provide technology solutions for transporting freight across the U.S. railway system–issued the following statement:
“While 99.9 percent of all hazmat shipments by rail reach their destination without incident, that statistic is small consolation to the residents of East Palestine, who have our sympathy during this difficult time. The safety of the community of East Palestine is paramount.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is actively fulfilling its role of conducting an independent accident investigation and, where appropriate, will advocate for safety enhancements. The RSI and its members prioritize safety above all else, but also believe that hastily recommended policy solutions are premature until the NTSB has completed its investigation of the causal and root factors in this incident.
The RSI looks forward to lending its technical expertise on railcar design and integrity to members of the NTSB, and stands ready to be part of discussions around proposed solutions when the report is completed.”
About the Railway Supply Institute (RSI)
The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) is dedicated to advancing safety, innovation, technology, and sustainability within the freight and passenger railway supplier industry, both in North America and global markets. As the voice of the industry, RSI strategically engages in critical and urgent industry matters by leveraging the technical expertise of our members to advocate in the legislative and regulatory arenas, foster education, host impactful events, and facilitate networking opportunities. For more information visit www.rsiweb.org, follow RSI on Twitter and LinkedIn