NS execs meet with NTSB's Homendy, endorse board's safety recommendations

Norfolk Southern Railway senior leadership has endorsed the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) national safety policy recommendations made in response to its investigation of last year’s NS hazmat train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

NS executives announced their endorsement of the recommendations after meeting with NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy at the Class I’s Atlanta headquarters. The recommendations align with safety initiatives underway at the railroad, which focus on accident prevention, mitigation and response, NS officials said in a press release.

In addition to addressing more than 80 operational leaders during the railroad’s three-day “safety summit,” Homendy toured the Class I’s Network Operations Center and witnessed a demonstration of RapidSOS, a technology designed to deliver immediate consist information to first responders.

“We have a deep respect for Chair Homendy and the important work of the NTSB. We appreciate her leadership, willingness to collaborate with us on next steps, and direct engagement with our operational leaders," said NS President and CEO Alan Shaw. "Norfolk Southern and the NTSB share the same goal when it comes to safety. We're committed to taking action that addresses their recommendations and to becoming the gold standard of safety for the industry."

NTSB’s recommendations included initiatives to improve the performance of defect-detection systems, modernize the nationwide tank-car fleet carrying certain types of hazardous materials and quickly put critical real-time information in the hands of emergency responders.

In posts on the social media site X, Homendy said yesterday’s meeting with Shaw and his team was “productive.” She noted that Shaw committed to not only support the NTSB’s East Palestine recommendations, but to exceed them.

“This is a great first step,” Homendy said. “The NTSB’s work doesn’t end with a final report; it’s just the beginning for safety change.”