Derailment after derailment. They just keep happening.
Since early February, there have been numerous derailments in North America carrying crude from North Dakota’s Bakken Shale. These accidents have sparked increased calls from citizens, the rail industry and lawmakers for the federal government to increase safety regulations.
To keep up with these incidents and new safety regulations, PublicSource provides a roundup of stories every Friday.
New legislation could delay safety deadline
The House introduced a bill this week that would extend the Dec. 31, 2015 deadline to implement positive train control (PTC) on all major railroads to Dec. 31, 2018. Railroads that don’t meet the deadline will be suspended from service at the end of the year unless the bill passes.
Two trains collide in St. Francis, WI
Two Union Pacific trains, one carrying coal and the other rail (steel bars used to form the track), crashed into each other on Sept. 29. One of the rail cars derailed, but it was reported to be empty. Although there weren’t any injuries, the accident left a two-mile stretch of roads and railroad crossings blocked for about 12 hours. The collision is under investigation.
Freight train derails in Marshall, VA
Nine cars of Norfolk Southern Intermodal train 204-29 derailed around midnight on Sept. 30. No crew members were injured. The train carried consumer goods, and two of its cars were reported to have contained chemicals. Those cars remained on the tracks, according to Fauquier Now.
U.S. DOT extends grants to firefighters
The Department of Transportation announced nearly $6 million in grants that will go toward training firefighters and first responders to deal with crude oil incidents. The International Association of Fire Chiefs, Center for Rural Development and the University of Findlay will receive the grants.
Reach Stephanie Roman at sroman@publicsource.org. Follow her on Twitter @ShogunSteph.
