Early Tuesday morning, another train derailment occurred in the Midwest. This one resulted in 31 cars going off the tracks in Gothenburg, Nebraska. Images show about a dozen train cars crumpled and strewn around the tracks. The accident caused significant damage to the rail line and surrounding area.
According to reports, the train was carrying coal from a nearby mine to a power plant when the derailment occurred. The cause of the accident is not yet clear, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances that led to the derailment.
Local authorities and emergency services were quickly on the scene to assess the damage and ensure the safety of the surrounding area. There were no reported injuries or casualties because of the accident, but the disruption to the rail line has caused significant transportation issues and delays.
News of the derailment broke just as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced his plans to visit the derailment site in East Palestine, Ohio, almost three weeks after that incident occurred. Buttigieg has faced criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) called Buttigieg “m.i.a” on his handling of the derailments.
First @SecretaryPete was m.i.a. on the derailment
Then he lies to media claiming my 2021 letter calling for more track inspections was a letter calling for deregulation
He is an incompetent who is focused solely on his fantasies about his political future & needs to be fired
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 21, 2023
In a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of Norfolk Southern, Alan Shaw, Buttigieg declares that the Biden administration will present a set of measures in the following days to enhance rail safety for both workers and communities promptly. The letter states that the administration will also request that Congress increase the cap on fines for companies that disregard safety regulations.
But Buttigieg’s critics aren’t holding their breath. The derailments have raised concerns about the safety and reliability of the transportation infrastructure in the United States. The nation’s rail system is critical in transporting goods and resources across the country, and events like this can have far-reaching impacts on businesses and communities that rely on these transport networks. However, after Buttigieg’s track record on incidents like January’s multi-hour FAA outage, reportedly caused by incompetence, and his absence during the supply chain crisis in late 2021, Americans on both sides of the aisle are taking a wait-and-see approach.
