Authorities from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a national railroad safety campaign in Chicago Union Station. The campaign focuses on improving the safety and lives of railworkers. ‘Chicago is the rail capital of the nation, making it the best place to start this initiative,’ stated NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy.
The NTSB, which investigates transportation accidents, seeks collaboration with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to implement their guidelines. Homendy highlighted that 95 of their safety recommendations remain unfulfilled by the FRA. ‘Forty percent of those were unanimously designated as unacceptable actions by the board,’ she said. Despite the successfully adopted hundreds of NTSB suggestions since 1967, Homendy stressed the need for further improvements to enhance safety.
In response to the Tribune, the FRA representative mentioned that 44 of the 95 pending recommendations have been returned to the NTSB with feedback and await further communication. The FRA aims to address the remainder within a month.
Standing alongside NTSB board members Joe Gordon and Tom Chapman, Homendy addressed reporters at the press conference. She revealed that since 2020, 54 railworkers have died, and nearly 19,000 others have suffered injuries on the job. ‘There are consistent patterns across our investigations,’ Homendy noted. ‘These are not mere findings; they signify warnings. Ignoring them will lead to predictable outcomes.’
Homendy emphasized the crucial role of Chicago as a major rail hub in the US, interpreting it as the convergence point for eastern and western lines. ‘It’s essential to ensure adequate protections for workers, communities, and passengers here,’ she explained.
The NTSB is currently investigating 27 rail accidents, with two located in Illinois. One incident involved a derailment in Browns in July 2025, releasing hazardous materials. The other occurred in Elgin in October 2025, where a Union Pacific Railroad train struck a landscaping vehicle, resulting in one fatality and two injuries.
The NTSB’s recommendations advocate stronger safety measures, particularly during train shoving movements—a procedure in which a locomotive pushes rail cars while a worker checks the track’s clearance. They advise prohibiting workers from performing these tasks while riding the lead rail car due to the risk of falls or being crushed. ‘Since October 2020, we have investigated 18 such accidents, leading to 14 fatalities and four serious injuries,’ reported Tom Chapman. ‘Such acceptance would not exist in any other transportation sector.’
Following the announcement, Homendy planned to meet with Amtrak officials and observe operations at The Belt Railway Company of Chicago. In the coming weeks and months, the NTSB will visit communities across the nation to highlight rail safety lessons from their research. ‘This marks only the beginning,’ Homendy concluded.