WASHINGTON — A bipartisan consensus that Congress should toughen railroad regulations emerged March 22 as senators heard fresh testimony on February's fiery hazardous train derailment.

Norfolk Southern’s CEO is offering support for parts of a Senate bill to apply tougher safety regulations to railroads, but does not address several key provisions of the Railway Safety Act.

CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs says he wants to repair broken relations with union workers and customers and attract more businesses to send their freight over rails instead of roads.

A deal has been reached between union workers and six Class I railroads, averting a threatened strike that could have snarled the nation’s freight and passenger rail service.

Here’s how some industries are gauging the potential impacts and getting ready for the possible rail work stoppage.

American Trucking Associations touted the Biden White House’s recent directive to assist with ongoing freight rail workforce negotiations.

OMAHA, Neb. — President Joe Biden on July 15 blocked a freight railroad strike that would disrupt shipments of all kinds of goods for at least 60 days by naming a board of arbitrators to intervene in the contract dispute.

Citing supply chain concerns, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce joined other transportation stakeholders in calling on the White House to assist with labor disputes in the freight rail sector.

The top Democrats on the House transportation panel highlighted workplace safety concerns across freight rail operations shortly after the Biden administration awarded the industry grants to alleviate supply chain woes.

The U.S. Surface Transportation Board proposed a rule change that aims to bring immediate relief for shippers facing poor rail service, asserting that the agency can take emergency action on its own to address delays.