The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated a nationwide campaign focused on enhancing railroad safety. This effort aims to protect the lives of railworkers and ensure their safety while on the job. The announcement was made at Chicago Union Station on a Monday, a location chosen due to its significance as the rail capital of the United States.
According to NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, Chicago provides the ideal setting for launching this important initiative. The NTSB, which investigates transit accidents, seeks collaboration with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to implement its designated safety guidelines. Homendy pointed out that 95 safety recommendations from her organization remain unimplemented by the FRA, with 40% of these being labeled as unacceptable actions.
Despite challenges, Homendy acknowledged the efforts made by the FRA and railroads. They have executed numerous NTSB recommendations since the agency’s inception in 1967, contributing to safer rail transport. However, she emphasized the necessity of further improvements to save lives.
A spokesperson for the FRA revealed that 44 of the 95 outstanding recommendations were returned to the NTSB with comments, awaiting a response. The remainder are expected to be sent back within the coming month.
Homendy, speaking at the press conference, was joined by NTSB board members Joe Gordon and Tom Chapman. She highlighted the alarming statistics: since 2020, 54 rail workers have died, and nearly 19,000 suffered injuries. She underscored that recurring patterns continue to emerge in investigations and urged for action to prevent further incidents.
Chicago serves as a strategic hub where eastern and western rail networks converge. Homendy noted that ensuring the safety of workers, communities, and passengers in such critical locations is imperative. The NTSB is currently investigating two rail accidents in Illinois, adding urgency to their campaign.
The first accident occurred in Browns in July 2025, where 24 train cars derailed, injuring two Northern Suffolk rail crew members and releasing hazardous materials. The second took place in Elgin in October 2025, where a Union Pacific Railroad train collided with a landscaping vehicle, resulting in one fatality and two injuries.
We continue to see recurring patterns in our investigations. These findings serve as warnings, and failing to act on them could lead to predictable outcomes.
In particular, the NTSB called for increased protection for workers involved in train shoving movements. This practice involves a locomotive pushing rail cars while a worker checks the track ahead. They advised against allowing workers to ride the lead rail car during these movements due to heightened risks of falling, being thrown, or crushed.
Tom Chapman stated that, since October 2020, the NTSB has investigated 18 accidents related to shoving movements, resulting in 14 worker fatalities and four serious injuries. Chapman stressed that nowhere else in transport is such risk tolerance acceptable.
Homendy noted that the NTSB planned meetings with Amtrak officials and intended to observe operations at The Belt Railway Company of Chicago. She explained that, in the coming weeks and months, the NTSB would engage with communities nationwide to share valuable rail safety lessons gained from their investigations, marking only the beginning of a significant effort.
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