‘It’s unacceptable;’ Ohio Senator calls for legislation after latest train derailment in Springfield

CLEVELAND — Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown said he is in touch with local officials and calling on passage of the Railway Safety Act following a train derailment in Springfield late Saturday afternoon.

>>Railway Safety Act: How new proposed legislation aims to prevent train disasters like East Palestine

He thanked first responders who arrived on the scene quickly Saturday. after “another Norfolk Southern train derailed in Ohio,” Brown said in a social media post Saturday evening.

“Sandusky, Steubenville, East Palestine, and now Springfield - four Norfolk Southern derailments in less than five months because this corporation has been more concerned with its profit margin than with Ohioans’ safety,” he said in a statement. “Ohio communities should not be forced to live in fear of another disaster. It’s unacceptable, it’s why we must pass my bipartisan Railway Safety Act with Senator Vance, now.”

>>Norfolk Southern train derails in Springfield; No hazardous materials ‘involved’

Senators Brown and Vance introduced the legislation last week.

The proposal aims to prevent train disasters like what happened in East Palestine last month and Springfield Saturday, Brown said.

>>PHOTOS: Ground images of Springfield train derailment

The bill aims to improve rail safety protocols and establish requirements for wayside defect detectors and create a permanent requirement for railroads to operate with at least a two-person crew, a spokesperson for Senator Brown said.

No injuries have been reported in Saturday’s Springfield train derailment.

>>PHOTOS: Drone footage shows train derailment near Clark County Fairgrounds

A Norfolk Southern spokesperson said no hazardous materials were “involved” in the derailment.

Springfield Train Derailment Contributed Photo/iWitness7 Viewer

Springfield Train Derailment

Clark County Train Derailment Sky 7 Drone/Eric Higgenbotham

Ohio Cargo Train Derailment Multiple cars of a Norfolk Southern train lie toppled after derailing at a train crossing with Ohio 41 in Clark County, Ohio, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (Bill Lackey/Springfield-News Sun via AP) (Bill Lackey)

Ohio Cargo Train Derailment A Norfolk Southern cargo train car leans off the tracks after derailing in Clark County, Ohio, at a train crossing with Ohio 41 Saturday, March 4, 2023. (Bill Lackey/Springfield-News Sun via AP) (Bill Lackey)

APTOPIX Ohio Cargo Train Derailment Multiple cars of a Norfolk Southern train lie toppled on one another after derailing at a train crossing with Ohio 41 in Clark County, Ohio, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (Bill Lackey/Springfield-News Sun via AP) (Bill Lackey)

Ohio Cargo Train Derailment Multiple cars of a Norfolk Southern cargo train lie toppled on one another after derailing at a train crossing with Ohio 41 in Clark County, Ohio, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (Bill Lackey/Springfield-News Sun via AP) (Bill Lackey)

Train Derailment in Clark County Photo from: Eric Higgenbotham/Staff