2008-2017 freight train length increase linked to higher derailment risks, report urges safety reassessment.

A report from the National Academies of Sciences highlights safety concerns linked to increasing freight train lengths, which have risen by 25% from 2008 to 2017. It connects longer trains to higher derailment risks due to in-train forces. The report urges regulators and Congress to reassess safety measures, improve train assembly practices, and empower the Federal Railroad Administration to impose penalties for issues like blocked crossings.