Norfolk Southern CEO Apologizes for Ohio Train Crash in Senate Hearing
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw apologized in a Senate hearing on Thursday for the harm caused by the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio — just hours after another Norfolk Southern train derailed in Alabama.
Key Quotes: In his opening remarks to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Shaw said, “I want to begin today by expressing how deeply sorry I am for the impact this derailment has had on the residents of East Palestine and the surrounding communities.” He also said he was “determined to make this right,” and that “it is clear the safety mechanisms in place were not enough.” When asked about a bipartisan rail safety bill sponsored by Sens. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Shaw said he supported the “legislative intent to make rail safer” but did not endorse the bill.
Derailment #3: Hours before Shaw’s testimony, another Norfolk Southern train derailed near Piedmont, Alabama. This was the second Norfolk Southern derailment after the Ohio crash, following a derailment in Springfield, Ohio on March 4. No injuries were reported in either case. Separately, a train run by freight company CSX derailed in Sandstone, West Virginia on Wednesday, leaking an unknown amount of diesel fuel and oil into the surrounding environment. Three crew members were treated for “non-life threatening injuries.”
How the Media Covered It: Coverage was widespread and generally similar across the spectrum. Headlines generally focused on expectations before the hearing, quotes during the hearing, or the coinciding derailment.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Norfolk Southern CEO faces Senate grilling over toxic train derailment in East Palestine, OhioNorfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw faced a Senate grilling Thursday as Washington lawmakers held their first hearing on railroad safety about a month after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio.
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Tom Carper, D-Del. pointedly asked Shaw: "Yes or no: Will you commit that Norfolk Southern will be there for as long as it takes to make East Palestine, Ohio, Darlington Township in Pennsylvania, and the surrounding communities whole from this disaster?"
"I'm terribly sorry for the impact this derailment has had...
From the Center
Senate committee grills Norfolk Southern CEO about East Palestine derailmentMembers of a Senate committee today grilled Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw and environmental officials over the response to the Feb. 3 toxic derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Shaw repeated his promise that the railroad will do whatever it takes to make things right in East Palestine, now and over the long term.
The railroad has spent $20 million to date in the form of reimbursements and investments in the community, which Shaw said was just a down payment on the railroad’s commitment to cleaning up the derailment site as...
From the Right
Norfolk Southern CEO apologizes for East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment in Senate testimonyNorfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw apologized before Congress Thursday for the Feb. 3 East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment.
"I want to begin today by expressing how deeply sorry I am for the impact this derailment has had on the residents of East Palestine and the surrounding communities," Shaw told the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
"I am determined to make this right," Shaw continued. "Norfolk Southern will clean the site safely, thoroughly and with urgency. You have my personal commitment. Norfolk Southern will get the job done and help...
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