Bipartisan legislation introduced on Tuesday by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) would take steps to improve the safety of short line railroads in response to a derailment last year.
Collins and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) co-sponsored the bill, which would establish a Short Line Rail Safety Institute to improve the safety and culture of the more than 550 short line railroad companies that operate on more than 50,000 miles of track.
“The horrific derailment that occurred in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, last year – just 30 miles from the Maine border – brought to light the importance of ensuring the safe transportation of energy products,” Collins said. “We must ensure that we are taking the necessary steps to prevent another Lac-Megantic, while not overburdening an industry that has a proven track record of safety.”
Short line railroads are routinely used to transport crude oil and ethanol on tracks that are anywhere from two miles long to more than 1,000 miles long.
“Whether a train is carrying crude oil on a major rail line or on a short, local route through small towns across America, we need to make sure everyone is safe, both on the train and near the tracks,” Murray said. “We need to have the right policies in place to prevent accidents and respond to emergencies wherever they happen, and establishing a Short Line Rail Safety Institute is a strong step in the right direction.”
The Short Line Rail Safety Institute would assess current safety programs, develop best practices, provide professional training for short line employees and participate in research and development activities.