Lawmakers Demand Tougher Safety Rules for All Trains Carrying Flammable Cargo — Why Are Our Communities Still at Risk?
After multiple near-disasters and deadly derailments, lawmakers push to broaden safety regulations to include all trains carrying flammable materials—not just the largest shipments. Why is Washington still dragging its feet while American towns remain vulnerable?
When a BNSF freight train transporting just six cars of liquefied petroleum gas derailed near Manuelito, New Mexico in 2024, it unleashed a towering column of fire and black smoke that shut down over 100 miles of interstate highway. Yet under existing federal regulations, this train didn’t qualify as a “high-hazard flammable train” (HHFT) and was spared critical safety measures—putting nearby communities at needless risk.
This glaring loophole exposes a troubling reality: our federal safety rules protect only the largest shipments of flammable liquids, ignoring smaller but still dangerous loads like liquefied petroleum gas and vinyl chloride. The consequence? Fewer safeguards on many more trains that traverse towns and cities across America daily—creating ticking time bombs near our families’ homes.
Why Do Current Federal Rules Ignore Real Community Risks?
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which investigates catastrophic train accidents, has repeatedly warned that the narrow definition of HHFTs hinders effective oversight. Currently, only trains carrying at least 35 loaded tank cars—or 20 consecutive loaded cars—of certain flammable liquids are subject to stricter speed limits, safer braking systems, and upgraded tank cars. Trains carrying smaller quantities or flammable gases fall outside those protections.
Consider East Palestine, Ohio’s tragic derailment in 2023 involving toxic vinyl chloride—a single hazardous cargo that forced a community evacuation despite the train not meeting HHFT status. Isn’t it obvious that any flammable or toxic material onboard can spell disaster?
The Fight for Safer Railroads Must Put American Lives First
Congressman Chris Deluzio’s DERAIL Act embodies a commonsense approach: redefine HHFTs to capture any train carrying even one car of flammable gas or liquid. This expansion would dramatically increase transparency by requiring better reporting to emergency responders and triggering stronger safety protocols nationwide.
Yet powerful industry groups like the Association of American Railroads resist change under the guise of “risk assessment,” prioritizing uninterrupted shipping over citizen safety. Meanwhile, real-time data shows there are far more trains with small amounts of hazardous cargo traveling our rails than massive “bomb trains” alone.
This resistance ignores an undeniable fact: no shipment size justifies exposing American communities to potentially catastrophic derailments without adequate safeguards. How long will Washington let corporate interests trump public safety?
The America First movement calls for sovereign control over our infrastructure and protection of our families—not policies dictated by globalist trade priorities or industry lobbying. Expanding federal rail safety standards aligns perfectly with national sovereignty and secure borders by reducing internal vulnerabilities.
The question every American should ask is clear: Why settle for outdated definitions that leave thousands more trains carrying explosive hazards operating without required protections? For too long, bureaucratic inertia has endangered everyday Americans living along freight corridors. It’s time to hold regulators accountable—and demand they adopt modern rules reflecting today’s realities.