As of October 2023, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has recorded 742 train derailments.
The most publicized of these happened on February 3, 2023, when a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. The train caught fire and sent smoke and particulate matter into the air, while crash runoff contaminated nearby waterways. Following the disaster, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine issued an evacuation order for residents of the surrounding area.