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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp announced that BNSF Railway will accelerate steps to enhance rail safety in a stretch of track through Casselton that has been the site of two derailments within the last year.
Hoeven and Heitkamp said we have been in regular contact with BNSF Executive Chairman Matt Rose, as well as other railroad officials to press them to promptly and effectively improve safety not only on this section of track, but on all track in the state.
North Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer says the derailments near Casselton last December and again earlier this month, combined with repeated incidents on this stretch of railroad prior to 2013, are too overwhelming to ignore. I am pleased BNSF is moving forward with a robust plan to prevent future accidents from occurring. The increase in rail transportation as America advances toward energy security, and recent derailment incidents, make it clear rail safety needs to be a national priority according to Cramer.
BNSF says it will do the following listed below:
1. Accelerate Capital Maintenance Investments. BNSF will replace rail relay and ties within a seven-mile-range of Casselton in 2015. The action will harden rail infrastructure.
2. Increase Rail Detection Testing Frequency. BNSF will more than double the frequency of testing rail for defects to 12 per year. The railroad currently tests five times per year. Existing frequency on crude routes under the industry crude by rail safety initiative is three per year, one more than required by the Federal Railroad Administration. BNSF will also increase testing frequency with the high-tech Track-Geometry Testing vehicle from three to four inspections per year.
3. Increase the Number of Equipment Detectors. These detectors flag equipment problems as the train passes them. Early detection gives the railroad the ability to fix the problem before an accident occurs.
4. Intensify Day-to-Day Track Maintenance Focus. BNSF will provide additional supervision and oversight of track quality by assigning maintenance engineers to focus on the Casselton segment of the railroad. It will also add additional staff to winter maintenance.
