Accidents Spur New Focus on Securing U.S. Rail System
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Two deadly railroad accidents in the last month have sparked new debate about the government’s efforts to secure the nation’s rail system and ensure that such accidents do not provide new opportunities for terrorists who might seek to use railroad cars as weapons. In Graniteville, S.C., a train carrying hazardous materials derailed near a switchyard, causing a green cloud of chlorine to leak. The accident killed nine, the deadliest such crash in more than 20 years, and prompted hundreds of people to be evacuated from their homes for days. On Wednesday, a suicidal man who parked his vehicle on the tracks in California, caused a multi-train accident, killing 11 and injuring 200. Even though the accidents do not show any signs of involving terrorism, elected leaders and safety officials said they point to long-known safety problems in the rail system that could be exploited by terrorists. Each year, at least one or two derailments of trains carrying hazardous material prompt an evacuation of an entire town. There are about 300 fatalities each year from vehicle collisions at grade crossings every year, according to the Federal Railroad Administration, although they usually do not cause a derailment. More : washingtonpost.com |