In the wake of the catastrophic train derailment and subsequent chemical spill in East Palestine,
Prof. Robert Verchick appeared on WWL on February 27th to advocate for modern rail safety measures.
Most trains in the US still use an antiquated air braking system as opposed to the more reliable electrical braking systems. This is mainly due to cost saving measures pushed by rail lobbyists and investors. This and other factors such as poor rail maintenance lead to an average of over 1700 derailments per year in the US, more than almost any other country with a modern rail system.