{"id":1249,"date":"2014-01-24T10:39:13","date_gmt":"2014-01-24T10:39:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/healyscanlon.devser.net\/?p=1249"},"modified":"2019-11-08T11:17:35","modified_gmt":"2019-11-08T11:17:35","slug":"ntsb-calls-for-improved-rail-safety-as-oil-shipments-increase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.healyscanlon.com\/ntsb-calls-for-improved-rail-safety-as-oil-shipments-increase\/","title":{"rendered":"NTSB calls for improved rail safety as oil shipments increase"},"content":{"rendered":"

Because of its size, location and history, Chicago has long been a hub for both passenger trains and freight trains. Most of the time, this is advantageous. But when it comes to hazards posed by train accidents, Chicagoans are particularly at risk.<\/p>\n

Recently, the hazards of\u00a0train accidents<\/a>\u00a0in dense urban areas have been a top concern for the National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB has been working with its equivalent agency in Canada to study potential problems with rail safety in light of the fact that shipments of crude oil and other volatile materials have increased dramatically in recent years.<\/p>\n

America is in the midst of an oil boom, largely due to hydraulic fracturing in places like North Dakota. Since 2005, there has been a 400 percent increase in the amount of crude oil shipped by rail in the U.S. Trains transporting oil sometimes reach a length of more than 100 cars.<\/p>\n

The hazards associated with this increase are somewhat obvious. The NTSB has noted that it \u201cis concerned that major loss of life, property damage and environmental consequences can occur when large volumes of crude oil or other flammable liquids are transported on a single train involved in an accident.\u201d<\/p>\n

At this point, regulators seem to be considering a number of options to address and improve rail safety. They include:<\/p>\n