At CSX, we firmly believe there is no competitive advantage in safety. Whether it is employees in the field, first responders on the front lines, or the communities we serve, protecting people is not a goal we pursue for ourselves alone. It is a moral obligation we hold as part of this industry. The future of rail depends on our ability to address this obligation together, and we must commit to doing so—with the help of innovation and teamwork.
Our industry has a proud legacy of service and efficiency, but we must ensure those qualities are rooted in safe practices. At CSX, safety is not just a requirement; it is a responsibility shared by all 23,000 employees across our ONE CSX team. We put this belief into action through programs like SAFE CSX, which empowers our team members to speak up, care for one another, and take ownership to make improvements. Our goal is to create a culture where every employee feels valued, included, respected, appreciated, and listened to. That is the foundation zero incidents.
To bring this vision to life, CSX has focused heavily on initiatives that enhance safety for employees and the communities along our network. Our industry-leading Responder Incident Training (RIT) program, for example, last year trained more than 1,200 first responders. We added an innovative training locomotive to this program in 2025, enabling first responders to practice hands-on scenarios that simulate real-world rail emergencies. This practical training approach not only hones their skills but also fosters relationships with emergency personnel across the 26 states in our service territory.
Community education is another critical component. Through our Community Affairs and Incident Reduction team, CSX provides outreach and rail safety education. During “See Tracks? Think Train Week,” we collaborate with local leaders and community organizations to promote safe behaviors around trains. Efforts like these reinforce our commitment to educating the public and enhancing preparedness.
But we know there is more work to be done.
While safety depends on human responsibility, we must welcome the power of innovation. Technology is an ally we cannot afford to overlook. At CSX, we have embraced solutions like an unmanned aerial vehicle system that leverages more than 400 drones for tasks like yard mapping, facility inspections, storm response and accident investigation. Utilizing drones not only enhances safety but also significantly improves the accuracy and efficiency of our operations.
We have also partnered with our Innovation X team to prototype solutions that proactively address potential risks. One notable project the team is evaluating uses technology to autonomously monitor railroad crossings, tunnels and bridges, identifying obstructions in real time. At the heart of this work, we stay focused on addressing the core reasons for over-the-road derailments today, such as broken rails and wheel bearing issues. These are two of our industry’s biggest challenges that we know technology can solve. With the right investment, we can leverage tools to detect issues before they escalate and focus our skilled workforce on resolving them.
Safety technology is not here to replace people; it is here to enable them. By using technology to identify issues early, we can allow our employees to do what they do best—solve problems. This approach multiplies the impact of human expertise while reducing risks for our teams and communities. We know the value of all our people. When we empower them with tools like advanced analytics and cloud-based simulations, they can make data-driven decisions that optimize our network in ways unaided human calculations simply cannot.
This blend of technology and human skill creates an exciting opportunity to build a safer, more efficient rail network. We are seeing results. Last year, CSX was the only Class I to restore pre-pandemic volume levels, and we did so while earning top ratings in customer service. This proves that safety and efficiency are not at odds. When done right, they’re complementary.
The railroad industry has a tremendous opportunity to modernize, grow and contribute to society in ways we have not seen in decades. But we can only achieve that if we change our mindset. Historically, railroads have operated in silos, with limited collaboration on safety initiatives. This approach has often hindered progress in creating safer environments for employees and customers. To build the railroads of the future, we must break down these barriers, prioritize safety as a shared responsibility, and champion collaboration and innovation. Only then can we attract the next generation of talent and earn the trust of our customers.
At CSX, we are proud to carry forward nearly 200 years of history. But we also recognize the need to change. Our mission is to inspire pride in every railroader—not just in what we do but also in how we do it. That starts with safety. It is not a checkbox or a cost of doing business. It is a commitment to our employees, our customers and our communities. With the right investments, the right mindset, and a focus on working together, we can reach a zero-incident railroad.
There is no competitive advantage in achieving that goal. By prioritizing safety, we all win.
