The Department of Transportation has issued emergency rules to keep parked rail cars from breaking loose, following last month’s crash of untethered rail cars in Quebec that killed almost 50 people.
“While we wait for the full investigation to conclude, the department is taking steps today to help prevent a similar incident from occurring,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement announcing the order by the Federal Railroad Administration, which is part of DOT.
The order states that within the next 30 days:
• Train or vehicles transporting specified hazardous materials cannot be left unattended outside a yard or terminal unless specifically authorized.
• Railroads must develop and submit to FRA a process for securing unattended trains transporting hazardous materials.
• Employees responsible for securing trains and vehicles transporting hazardous materials must communicate with dispatchers the number of hand brakes applied and other information.
• Railroads must implement rules ensuring that any employee involved in securing a train participate in daily briefings prior to the work being performed.
