(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A labor union that represents thousands of railroad workers says the freight train derailment in Ohio should shine a light on what it says are unsafe scheduling practices.
Bob Guy is the Illinois director of International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers. He says the train derailment in East Palestine should prompt the railroad industry to turn away from Precision Scheduled Railroading.
Railroads adopted the system in the 1990s. While supporters say it's more efficient, critics say it results in trains that are too long.
“That train has 40 percent of the weight on the rear third of the train. That train has problems ultimately at the head end,” Guy told WBBM Newsradio on Friday. “When that head end derails, all that weight from the rear end kept on pushing forward.”
Freight trains operate on a set schedule and are made up of many different types of cars and cargo. Critics say there are not enough railroad employees to safely inspect and operate them.
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