(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – The head of Northfolk Southern tells WBBM Newsradio he intends to make his national railroad “the gold standard in railway safety.”
It was nearly four months ago that a Norfolk Southern train derailed in tiny East Palestine, Ohio, triggering the release of hazardous materials that cuased air, water and soil pollution.
Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw said he has hired a retired admiral who headed the Navy’s nuclear propulsion program to head a team that will review the railroad’s safety procedures.
“We’ve got a number of former Navy admirals who are going to be helping us advance safety at Norfolk Southern,” Shaw said. “The Navy nuke program is the gold standard, and Norfolk Southern is going to be the gold standard in railway safety.”
Shaw says cleanup is coming along in East Palestine. Norfolk Southern employees and contractors have moved 50,000 tons of dirt and nearly 20 million gallons of water off-site. He said there’s more work to do.
There are about 1,200 Norfolk Southern employees in the Chicago area, Shaw said.
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