Federal Funds Lacking for Rail Inspections

Two U.S. senators say federal railroad officials lack the funds to properly inspect safety systems at railroads around the country.

Sen. Charles Schumer of New York and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut are holding a news conference Sunday at Grand Central Terminal to push for more inspectors in the wake of the Dec. 1 Metro-North Railroad accident. Four people died and dozens were injured when the train derailed in the Bronx.

The two Democrats say the government has funds to inspect safety at only 1 percent of railroads nationwide.

The senators say they’ll fight for enough money to hire an additional 45 inspectors. They also want cameras to be installed in locomotives and operating cabs to monitor conductors and tracks.