Firms working to make oil rail transfer safer

Firms working to make oil rail transfer saferAs the government continues to debate new regulations to increase safety of railways carrying crude oil, the firms are taking steps to adopt improved safety standards.

The firms have taken steps to make crude-by-rail shipments safer in the country.  The U. S.  Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said that railroads, shippers and oil companies will consider short term measures to decrease derailments and fiery collisions.  He was speaking after a conference call Thursday after meeting with industry representatives.

Foxx said railroads will consider cutting train speeds and rerouting oil trains on routes that are less crowded.  The US Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is also studying composition of Bakken crude oil to determine its volatility to know if it is being transported safely.

Oil companies and railcar manufacturers also also exploring opportunities to improve tankers to avoid punctures and explosions in train accidents.