One Year Later, a Commitment Renewed

On both sides of the U.S.-Canada border, we are solemnly reflecting on the one-year observance of a terrible tragedy. On July 6, 2013, 47 people were killed when a train hauling crude oil derailed and exploded in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec.

Investigators have pored over the accident scene – one of the largest in Canadian history – in an effort to determine exactly what happened. While freight rail companies in our countries have excellent overall safety records, this horrific event, however anomalous, has brought about a rededication to safety.

As senior representatives, respectively, of the U.S. and Canadian freight rail industries, our mission is to work so that nothing like the tragic accident in Lac-Mégantic ever happens again.

We want to underscore our mission in the clearest language possible: Canadian and U.S. railroads are fully committed to safely and securely delivering crude oil by rail. Crude oil by rail has been safely delivered for many years, but since the Lac-Mégantic incident, freight rail companies on both sides of the border have recommitted themselves to reducing the risks associated with moving this energy commodity.

Since last summer, the freight rail industries on both sides of the border have focused on several broad areas for improving the safety of crude oil transportation in particular.

First, in light of increased crude oil shipments, we conducted a top-to-bottom review and voluntarily updated several key operating practices.
Second, from train speeds to track and equipment inspections, railroads have raised their own standards for movements of oil by rail – standards that are well beyond federal requirements.
Third, railroads stepped up their communication and collaboration with communities through which they operate, to address concerns and reinforce preparedness. In Canada, whenever possible, alternative routes for dangerous goods transportation are selected.
Fourth, railroads continue to devote enormous resources and effort to preventing and preparing for emergency situations all along their lines.
Fifth, railroads actively work with local and regional emergency response officials so that those who need to know what is moving through their area are informed and prepared to respond to an emergency situation.

In addition to these steps aimed at increasing safety, Canadian and U.S. freight railroads have worked collaboratively with our respective governments to operate under updated standards related to moving crude oil by rail. In the U.S., this includes additional standards for route selection, track and equipment inspections and train speeds.

Ensuring sufficient safety training for responders along crude oil routes is today even more important. Freight railroads are providing training to thousands of local first responders, assisting communities in developing emergency response plans and positioning emergency response resources at strategic locations along oil routes.

We believe that our governments should raise federal tank car standards so that crude oil and other flammable liquids are moving in the safest cars possible based on the makeup of the product being moved. We also believe the existing tank car fleet should be upgraded with retrofits, or aggressively phased out.

Railroads are moving what North America’s economy needs them to move – as safely, securely and efficiently as possible. And because of major investments in network infrastructure, railroads can meet growing demand for domestically produced crude oil.

But safety is, and forever will be, front and center.

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Ed Hamberger is president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads.

Michael Bourque is president and CEO of the Railway Association of Canada.