Buttigieg Seeks Higher Fines, Tighter Rules After Derailment (1)

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wants tougher regulation of high-hazard flammable trains and stiffer penalties for violations in the aftermath of the chemical train derailment in Ohio.

The Transportation Department is pushing freight rail companies to accelerate their phase-in of safer tank cars and opt in to a reporting system with the agency that protects whistleblowers who spot safety problems, the agency announced Tuesday. The department is also initiating safety inspections on routes traveled by high-hazard flammable trains.

The Feb. 3 derailment of a Norfolk Southern Corp. train carrying hazardous materials set off a fire with smoke across East Palestine, Ohio, ...