Rail

Washington – A Feb. 26 House transportation subcommittee hearing brought together federal officials and industry representatives to discuss safety challenges facing the railroad industry, including transporting oil.

Washington – In response to recent derailments, many railroads that ship oil will begin taking new safety precautions this year, under a new agreement between the Department of Transportation and the Association of American Railroads.

Washington – The Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Safety Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet March 6 in Washington.

Washington – The National Transportation Safety Board on Jan. 23 issued recommendations to the Federal Railroad Administration and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in an effort to improve the safety of shipping crude oil and other flammable hazardous materials by rail.

Washington – A new appropriations bill could increase funding for the Federal Railroad Administration, allowing the agency to hire 45 new rail safety inspectors and increase the amount of rail it inspects nationwide.

Washington – Prompted by multiple train derailment-related explosions in recent years, North Dakota Sens. Heidi Heitkamp (D) and John Hoeven (R) met with federal transportation officials on Jan. 9 to discuss their concerns about the safety of shipping crude oil by rail.

Washington – Crude oil shipped from the Bakken Formation – located in North Dakota, Montana and nearby Canadian provinces – may be more flammable than “traditional” heavy crude oil, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration warned shippers, sellers and emergency responders in a Jan. 2 safety advisory.

Washington – The National Transportation Safety Board has sent the Federal Transit Administration two recommendations aimed at protecting railway track workers, after an investigation of a fatal incident in October 2013 revealed safety vulnerabilities.

Washington – Using preliminary information from a Dec. 1 fatal speeding-related derailment in New York, the Federal Railroad Administration on Dec. 11 issued a safety advisory to the railroad industry on obeying maximum speed limits.

Washington – Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has called for lawmakers to keep the Dec. 31, 2015, deadline for installation of a crash avoidance system known as positive train control on passenger rail systems.