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 a trade association representing more than 160 companies involved in the manufacture of products and services in the freight car, tank car, locomotive, maintenance-of-way, communications and signaling, and passenger rail industries. RSI connects members to their customers and partners, supports the improvement of the industry, assists members in the global marketplace, and represents the industry during the regulatory and legislative process. For more information visit www.rsiweb.org, follow RSI on Twitter and join the RSI LinkedIn group.