RAIL workers in the United States have blamed cost cutting for a massive freight train crash last week, according to reports by Common Dreams.

The independent news outlet reports that an alliance of rail workers said the massive freight train crash in East Palestine, Ohio on February 3 was a consequence of policy decisions that have hollowed out the industry's workforce, pushed remaining employees to chronic exhaustion, and sacrificed safety for profits.

Railroad Workers United, which brings together trade unionists from across the industry, wrote that "the root causes of this wreck are the same ones that have been singled out repeatedly, associated with the hedge fund-initiated operating model known as 'Precision Scheduled Railroading'."

The alliance said: "What other such train wrecks await us remains to be seen. But given the modus operandi of the Class One rail carriers, we can no doubt expect future disasters of this nature."

They added: "The PSR-driven carriers, driven to cut costs and crew time by any means necessary, cut corners and leave crews and the public at risk."

Common Dreams went on to report that Norfolk Southern announced a $10 billion stock buyback program last March but has refused to provide its workers with basic benefits such as paid sick leave.

The crash in Ohio last Friday forced the evacuation of large areas of the area to avoid a possible explosion and the release of toxic fumes.

RWU said Tuesday that while many people in the area "were and remain evacuated, and property damage to both rail and non-railroad property will no doubt soar into the millions, we dodged a bullet as no rail workers and no trackside residents were killed."

(An earlier version of this article failed to acknowledge the reporting of Common Dreams for which we apologise.)