White paint on railroad rail sides tested as a measure to curb derailments

Union Pacific announced a trial of white paint applied to the sides of its railroad rails. The paint is intended to reflect heat and improve visual detection of rail temperature. Excessive rail heat can cause track deformation, a known factor in derailments. By brightening the rail edges, workers can more quickly identify hot spots during inspections. The initiative follows safety analyses linking rail temperature to past incidents. Early results will be monitored to assess any reduction in derailment occurrences. If successful, the technique could be rolled out across the network. The project reflects ongoing efforts to enhance rail safety through simple engineering fixes.