Items Tagged with 'Train derailments'

Washington – The National Transportation Safety Board hosted a forum on rail safety April 22-23 in response to a series of train derailments in 2013 that resulted in spills of flammable shipments – some leading to fatalities.

Washington – The Metro-North Commuter Railroad’s emphasis on on-time service over safety contributed to four serious rail incidents in 2013, according to a Federal Railroad Administration report.

Albany, NY – New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) recently urged federal officials to speed up federal rail safety reforms, as derailments of trains transporting volatile crude oil continue to occur in North America.

Washington – Federal officials attended a March 6 Senate subcommittee hearing to discuss the progress of various rail safety efforts.

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 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 – 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.