After accidents, U.S. railroads seek tougher tank car standards
Source: Reuters
After accidents, U.S. railroads seek tougher tank car standards
NEW YORK Thu Nov 14, 2013 11:48am EST
(Reuters) - U.S. railroads on Thursday called on regulators to improve safety standards for tank cars carrying flammable liquids following a boom in transporting oil by rail and a spate of accidents and spills.
Most old tank cars must be phased out, and even new cars will require modifications, the Association of American Railroads said in a letter to the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
The letter came after a train derailed and exploded in western Alabama on Friday, spilling crude oil into a trackside wetland area.
In the summer, a Canadian train derailed in the Quebec town of Lac-Megantic, killing 47 people. The accident prompted a drive for tougher standards for rail car shipments.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/14/us-railroads-safety-improvements-idUSBRE9AD0YD20131114