Amtrak Crash Adds to CSX’s Rising Accident Toll
- Legendary railroad CEO had fast-tracked operations overhaul
- Service disruptions and layoffs led to customer complaints
Investigators make their way around train wreckage in Cayce, South Carolina.
Photographer: Bob Leverone/Getty Images North AmericaThis article is for subscribers only.
The weekend’s fatal crash of Amtrak and CSX Inc. trains raises concerns about whether the freight railroad’s massive operations overhaul might have compromised safety and contributed to a rise in accidents.
An aggressive turnaround plan at CSX has disrupted service, angered customers and drawn scrutiny from regulators during the past year. The company saw more upheaval in December when its chief executive officer and architect of the strategy died suddenly.