Brown Demands Infrastructure Improvements from Class 1 Railroads

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown demanded that three of the large Class 1 railroads that operate and own significant track in Ohio – Norfolk Southern, CSX, and Canadian National Railway – improve their upkeep of infrastructure they own in Ohio. 

Brown called on the companies to create a plan for the full remediation of deteriorated rail bridges that can harm communities and divulge every bridge that local officials and community representatives have asked the railroads to improve. 

The Senator stated, “I hear from Ohioans across the state who are concerned that old and dilapidated rail infrastructure poses a threat to local economies and to residents’ safety. In too many cases, your company has failed to properly maintain and repair the bridges and other infrastructure you own in Ohio, leaving local communities to deal with the consequences and bear the costs,” wrote Brown in his letters to the three rail companies. “Anything less than full repair of all of your infrastructure in Ohio communities is insufficient.”

Brown also called on all three companies to provide a comprehensive list of all Ohio rail bridges owned or maintained by each company and detail the complete condition of each bridge. 

In March, Brown, along with Ohio Senator J.D. Vance introduced their bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2023 to prevent future train disasters like the derailment that devastated East Palestine, Ohio.