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Train Country

Investigating Railroad Safety in America

As powerful railroad companies race to maximize profits through efficiency, safety is left behind.

Impact of Our Reporting
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Train Country

How Norfolk Southern Is Addressing Blocked Train Crossings in Hammond, Indiana

The railroad company has delivered on early, short-term fixes for the trains blocking kids from getting to school, but some officials are skeptical it will follow through on bigger, permanent changes.

by Topher Sanders,

Train Country

Blocked Crossings Crisis Draws Local and National Calls for Action

After seeing images of kids crawling under trains, regulators ask companies to address blocked crossings, lawmakers demand consequences, residents clamor for solutions and Norfolk Southern’s CEO calls a mayor to work out a fix.

by Topher Sanders and Dan Schwartz,

11 stories published since 2022

What’s Missing From Railroad Safety Data? Dead Workers and Severed Limbs.

by Topher Sanders, Dan Schwartz, Danelle Morton and Gabriel Sandoval,

“It Looks Like the Railroad Is Asking for You to Say Thank You”

by Jessica Lussenhop and Topher Sanders,

When Railroad Workers Get Hurt on the Job, Some Supervisors Go to Extremes to Keep It Quiet

by Topher Sanders, Dan Schwartz, Danelle Morton, Gabriel Sandoval and Jessica Lussenhop,

Union Pacific Fired Him Rather Than Heed His Warnings of Dangerous Rail Conditions

by Danelle Morton and Topher Sanders, with additional reporting by Jessica Lussenhop,

“Do Your Job.” How the Railroad Industry Intimidates Employees Into Putting Speed Before Safety

by Topher Sanders, Jessica Lussenhop, Dan Schwartz, Danelle Morton and Gabriel Sandoval,

Regulators Blast Union Pacific for Running Unsafe Trains

by Topher Sanders,

Help ProPublica Report on Railroad Worker Safety

by Topher Sanders, Dan Schwartz and Ruth Baron,

As Rail Profits Soar, Blocked Crossings Force Kids to Crawl Under Trains to Get to School

by Topher Sanders and Dan Schwartz, ProPublica, and Joce Sterman, Gray Television/InvestigateTV; Video by Scotty Smith, Gray Television/InvestigateTV; Photography by Jamie Kelter Davis for ProPublica,

The True Dangers of Long Trains

by Dan Schwartz and Topher Sanders, with additional reporting by Gabriel Sandoval and Danelle Morton, graphics by Haisam Hussein,

A Norfolk Southern Policy Lets Officials Order Crews to Ignore Safety Alerts

by Topher Sanders and Dan Schwartz,

Do Blocked Railroad Crossings Endanger Your Community? Tell Us More.

by Ruth Baron, Topher Sanders and Dan Schwartz,

What We’re Watching

During Donald Trump’s second presidency, ProPublica will focus on the areas most in need of scrutiny. Here are some of the issues our reporters will be watching — and how to get in touch with them securely.

Learn more about our reporting team. We will continue to share our areas of interest as the news develops.

Photo of Sharon Lerner
Sharon Lerner

I cover health and the environment and the agencies that govern them, including the Environmental Protection Agency.

Photo of Andy Kroll
Andy Kroll

I cover justice and the rule of law, including the Justice Department, U.S. attorneys and the courts.

Photo of Melissa Sanchez
Melissa Sanchez

I report on immigration and labor, and I am based in Chicago.

Photo of Jesse Coburn
Jesse Coburn

I cover housing and transportation, including the companies working in those fields and the regulators overseeing them.

If you don’t have a specific tip or story in mind, we could still use your help. Sign up to be a member of our federal worker source network to stay in touch.

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