Wednesday, November 11, 2015

WI lawmakers propose much-needed rail safety measures

Excellent first steps on a bi-partisan basis, including more money for inspectors and training - - about which I have have been sounding the alarm - - but now comes the hard work of keeping the issues and the needs in the public mind so that remedial rail safety measures succeed at the Capitol and precede another derailment.

Derailments are up, hazardous train movements with up to 110 tanker cars each are up statewide, but the state needs to be better prepared, pro-active and far more vigilant.

One permanent full-time rail inspector for a state with 3,000 miles of track  and 4,500 grade-crossings is a worse accident waiting to happen, so speak up and out to your local papers, columns and elected officials on behalf of public safety.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good thing Walker cancelled that train thing. You're right. Railroads are just too damn dangerous.

Anonymous said...

Anon: 5:49

This old fashion technology from 1800s just has to go. I understand why many are concerned about the oil trains and I am too. But if these tracks are unsafe for freight, even oil, it is unsafe for the people that put their lives in danger daily riding on Amtrak. It is not enough to just stop the death-trap called high speed rail. We need to get rid of all of these rail lines. The technology just isn't safe by 21st Century standards.