How a Derailed Train Galvanized an Ohio Town, and Congress

<p>On Feb. 3, a nearly two-mile long freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, a town of about 4,700 people.</p><p>The railroad company and local officials decided to do a chemical burn to neutralize the cargo, but as a giant plume of black smoke settled over the town, residents’ anger about the handling of the accident has intensified.</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/emily-cochrane?smid=pc-thedaily">Emily Cochrane</a>, a national correspondent for The New York Times.</p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>A bipartisan group of lawmakers has proposed that the Transportation Department impose<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/01/us/politics/senate-rail-safety-legislation.html"> stricter rules for freight rail</a>.</li><li>The<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/05/us/ohio-train-derailment.html"> derailment of a second train in Ohio</a> — despite assurances that no hazardous materials had leaked — sharpened the questions about rail safety.</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p>