PLATFORM : Skimping on Safety
It wasn’t just a coincidence that two freight trains in California derailed only two weeks apart. Train derailments causing hazardous chemical spills happen an average of almost once a week in this country.
The railroads skimp on safety and the Bush Administration maintains the legacy of careless enforcement of railroad-safety standards. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has failed miserably in its inspection, enforcement and regulating responsibilities.
Legislation now before Congress would close loopholes used by the FRA to avoid issuing needed regulations. It would require railroads to report corrective actions taken and would increase civil penalties fourfold. Unless these and other rail safety issues are addressed, accidents like the two Southern Pacific derailments will continue to threaten workers, the public and our environment.
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