AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Tuesday release calling for certain rail safety and operational measures in response to the recent accident in East Palestine, Ohio.

“No community should ever face the events of February 3rd. This is why railroads are steadfastly committed to solutions-oriented steps that directly address the cause of the accident and could prevent a similar accident from occurring elsewhere.

“The NTSB’s independent investigators continue their work to identify the accident’s root cause and contributing factors. That investigation must continue unimpeded by politics and speculation so NTSB’s findings can guide what additional measures may have prevented this accident.

“All stakeholders – railroads along with federal, state and local officials – must work to restore the public’s trust in the safety and security of our communities. We can only do that by letting the facts drive the post-accident response. At this time, the focus must be on the most pressing issue at hand – ensuring the community of East Palestine has all the support they need as it moves forward.”