1. The derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals in Ohio has highlighted the potential dangers of train accidents and raised questions about railroad safety.
2. Rail unions believe the industry has become riskier due to job cuts, while federal data shows hazardous materials accidents are rare.
3. The Association of American Railroads trade group believes 99.9% of hazardous materials shipments reach their destinations safely, but some residents have sued the rail operator for negligence.
The article is generally reliable and trustworthy, as it provides a balanced view on the issue by presenting both sides of the argument. It includes quotes from relevant sources such as Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ian Jefferies from the Association of American Railroads trade group, Professor David Clarke from the University of Tennessee, and Greg Regan from the AFL-CIO's Transportation Trades Department coalition. The article also provides factual information such as federal data on hazardous materials accidents and statistics on railroads’ safety record.
However, there are some potential biases in the article that should be noted. For example, it does not explore counterarguments to the claims made by rail unions that job cuts have made railroads riskier; nor does it provide evidence for these claims or explore other possible causes for an increase in accidents. Additionally, while it mentions that hazardous materials account for 7-8% of all shipments delivered by railroads every year, it does not provide any further details or context about this figure or its implications for safety.
Finally, while the article presents both sides fairly equally overall, there is a slight bias towards emphasizing potential risks associated with transporting hazardous materials by rail rather than exploring potential benefits or advantages associated with this form of transportation (e.g., cost savings).