THOSE RIGHT HERE IN CHICAGO AND THE PEOPLE BEHIND THAT MISSION.

AT FIRST WE SEND IT BACK TO YOU.

>> JOANNA, THANK YOU.

>>> NOW TO THE TOP STORE.

THE VIDEO IS STOMACH CHURNING, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A PARENT.

CHILDREN CRAWLING UNDER PAUSE FREIGHT TRAINS SO THEY CAN GET TO SCHOOL.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPUBLICA INVESTIGATION IS DAN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE CHILD WE SAW ON THE VIDEO LOOKS REALLY YOUNG AND SMALL.

HOW OLD OR YOUNGER ARE THE KIDS THAT YOU ARE SEEING?

HOW OLD ARE THEY?

>> THOSE KIDS ARE KIDS WHO ARE TRYING TO GET TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, TRYING TO GET TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, TRYING TO GET TO HIGH SCHOOL.

>> OBVIOUSLY A STRUGGLE FOR THE PARENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHY THESE TRAINS ARE IDLING AND PREVENTING KIDS FROM GETTING TO SCHOOL.

>> IT IS A SHORTHAND FOR WHAT IS GOING ON WITH COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY STRUGGLING WITH THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

RECENTLY IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE.

THAT IS LARGELY BECAUSE OF NEW CORPORATE MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY THAT THE BIG RAILROADS IN THE UNITED STATES OPERATE UNDER.

IN A NUTSHELL, BASICALLY, IT REQUIRES THE RAILROADS TO OPERATE MORE WITH LESS.

THEY ARE CUTTING A LOT OF THEIR OVERHEAD EMPLOYEES IN ORDER TO RETURN PROFITS FOR INVESTORS.

>> DAN, I'M SORRY.

I THINK YOUR RESUME MIGHT BE CUTTING OUT A LITTLE BIT FOR US.

BUT AS YOU SAID, IT IS NOT JUST HAPPENING HERE IN HAMMOND, INDIANA BUT EVERYWHERE.

DOES IT SEEM THAT THERE IS A REASON FOR IT HAPPENING MORE OFTEN, AND IS IT DUE TO GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT?

>> YEAH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

IT IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN BECAUSE OF THE CORPORATE MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY THAT A LOT OF THE RAILROADS AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE DEVELOPED RECENTLY.

IT BASICALLY CALLS FOR DOING MORE WITH LESS.

IT CUTS A LOT OF OVERHEAD IN ORDER TO MAKE PROFITS FOR INVESTORS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A LOT OF REGULATIONS ON THE RAILROAD INDUSTRY, BUT THERE ARE ALSO -- THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE JUST NOT REGULATED ABOUT THE RAILROADS.

>> SO WE HAVE A NORFOLK SOUTHERN RESPONSE TO THE PROPUBLICA STORY AND IT READS, IN PART, WE ARE WORKING TO IDENTIFY AN AREA, AND WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE HAMMOND COMMUNITY ON A PROJECT THAT WAS PARTIALLY FUNDED AND ADVOCATED FOR.

AGAIN, THEY ARE WORKING ON STOPPING THE TRAINS BEFORE THE INTERSECTIONS, BUT HOW LONG CAN A CHANGE LIKE THAT TAKE?

>> IT GOES INTO THEIR DECISION-MAKING THERE.

SO WHETHER THEY STAGE THE TRAIN IS UNCLEAR TO ME.

I AM GLAD THEY ARE TALKING WITH US AND COMMUNICATING WITH US, BUT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME NOT ONLY IN CHICAGO BUT IN HAMMOND, INDIANA THERE.

IT IS HARD TO TALK A LOT ABOUT THE CHANGE.

>> YOU HAVE DONE A LOT OF WRITING AND REPORTING ABOUT LONG TRAINS.

HAVE THEY MADE IT AN OPTION FOR SHORT TRAINS?

>> IN INDIANA AT THAT CROSSING A SHORT TRAIN WOULD NOT ALLEVIATE THIS PROBLEM.

EVEN IF THEY PARKED A MILE-LONG OR LESS THAN A MILE LONG, THERE WOULD STILL BE AN AT GRADE INTERSECTION THAT A LOT OF PEDESTRIANS WOULD BE DEALING WITH.

>> I KNOW THAT YOU AND THE TEAM