Those hoping for railroad companies to move on their own toward improved safety for their workers and the communities through which their trains run will have to wait a bit longer. More than two and a half years since a Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, not one of the larger freight railroads in the country has signed on to the Confidential Close Call Reporting System, a voluntary federal program that was meant to reduce rail hazards and prevent accidents.

According to a report by the Associated Press, BNSF and Norfolk Southern did attempt partial trials, but have not actually joined the program.

Remember, Congress has simply refused to move on rail safety reform since the incident in East Palestine. Despite saying back in March 2023 that he was “determined to make this right,” Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw appears to have decided the voluntary approach to improving safety isn’t for them, either.

The general public is paying very close attention to the politicians and railroad corporate officers who have rejected attempts to improve rail safety. While we can’t do much about the consciences of railroad execs, we do have a little say in whether the political careers of members of Congress are derailed.