A federal study warns that long freight trains pose increased derailment risks, urging regulators to implement stricter safety measures.
Dana DiFilippo reports for New Jersey Monitor.
In short:
- Long freight trains, often over a mile in length, have created safety challenges, but federal regulations have not kept pace.
- The study recommends stronger safety requirements for railroads, including public reporting of blocked crossings and financial penalties for noncompliance.
- Some environmental advocates in New Jersey have long lobbied for limits on train lengths, citing risks to communities near the tracks.
Key quote:
“We need to come down to earth and realize that we just can’t handle these very long, 1.5-mile or longer trains, period.”
— Tracy Carluccio, deputy director, Delaware Riverkeeper Network
Why this matters:
Long freight trains can pose serious safety risks, especially in densely populated areas. Better safety practices could prevent disasters like past derailments involving hazardous materials, protecting lives and the environment.
