Second Norfolk Southern train derails in Ohio

Officials in Ohio are investigating the second derailment of a Norfolk Southern cargo train in the state in just one month. The recent incident occurred between Dayton and Columbus and, fortunately, authorities have confirmed that there is no indication of any risk to public health from the derailment.

The rest of the train was made up of mixed freight types, including steel and finished automobiles, meaning that no hazardous materials were involved in the derailment. Environmental officials have also confirmed that the location of the derailment is not near any protected water source, therefore posing no risk to either public water systems or private wells.

Despite these assurances, concerns persist over the frequency of incidents involving Norfolk Southern cargo trains in Ohio. Following an earlier derailment last month, which left a number of cars hanging precariously over a highway, residents raised questions about the safety of such transport methods.

Authorities in Ohio say they will continue their investigation into this latest event, with the findings set to be turned over to the Federal Railroad Administration for further scrutiny.  There has been no indication so far as to what caused the derailment.

Norfolk Southern has yet to release a statement regarding both the most recent incident or the previous derailment, but it is expected that pressure will increase on the transportation company if further incidents occur in the future.

Railroad accidents always draw attention because of their potential danger, especially when hazardous materials are involved. Train derailments can cause substantial hazards to both human life and the environment. While this particular incident did not pose a significant threat, there is still reason to believe the public will be uneasy given the earlier Nofolk Southern incident only a month ago.

As transport via rail becomes more common and larger volumes of goods enter cities via our nation's railways, communities want assurance that those working to keep them safe will do better in avoiding incidents like this moving forward.