"phase in new, safer tank cars"
None of the railroads own the tank cars.
The cars are either privately owned (by the shippers), or owned by leasing companies that lease them to the shippers.
The railroads just haul these around, like an independent truck driver hauls someone else's trailer.
"deploy new inspection technologies"
The big railroads probably spend a good amount on upgrading wayside detectors right now. You can only have so many "talking" hot journal detectors before it's overkill -- they'll be talking right over one another.
"advance a new rule requiring that at least two railroad staff be present for most operations"
I'm thinking most (all?) freight trains on the major carriers operate with an engineer and conductor right now.
No doubt the companies would like to cut this down to just one if they could.
Did you know that on the big railroads, many "yard" jobs are now one-man only?
No engineer ... at all.
The conductor carries "a remote pack" on his chest, by which to control the yard engine remotely while he does "the ground work" as well.
Not the best way to work. The son of a conductor I once worked with was killed in the yard this way. He went between a couple of cars to adjust a drawbar, and... the engine moved, crushing him between the cars.
