Keystone XL Cancelled – More Railcar Oil Spills

There is oil to be moved. Obama has cancelled Keystone XL.  So Warren Buffet and his railway the BNSF (and other railways) are stepping up and building thousands of miles of new track.

Right through the middle of cities.

“WATERTOWN — A Canadian Pacific train, with some cars carrying crude oil, derailed in Watertown on Sunday afternoon, November 8th — and dozens of homes were evacuated. Evacuated residents got word Sunday night that they would NOT be allowed back in their homes.”

Canadian Pacific: 13 rail cars derailed in Watertown; less than 1,000 gallons of crude oil leaked

 

Buffett’s BNSF helped lead fight to delay train safety technology

 

Last week, under pressure from companies including Buffett’s BNSF Railway Co, which has spent more money lobbying Congress this year than any other railroad, U.S. legislators passed, and President Obama signed, a law that delays the so-called positive train control mandate for at least three years, with the possibility of an additional two-year delay.

That means railroad operators can put off having to buy and install equipment that safety advocates say would have prevented accidents that have claimed more than 245 lives and caused over 4,200 injuries since the National Transportation Safety Board began calling for the technology in 1969.”

http://kelo.com/news/articles/2015/nov/04/buffetts-bnsf-helped-lead-fight-to-delay-train-safety-technology/

 

 

 

Railways Are Building Even If the Keystone XL Isn’t

There is oil to be moved. Obama and company keeps delaying approval of the Keystone XL.  So Warren Buffet and his railway the BNSF (and other railways) are stepping up and building thousands of miles of new track.

Right through the middle of cities.

Bakkentrain_13946551525353-300x300-noup

BNSF will make the following investments:

-$162 million to double track the rail line from Minot, N.D., to Glasgow, Mont., to help address major congestion issues for westbound traffic to destinations in the Pacific Northwest.

-$26 million to add sub sidings to address congestion from Fargo, N.D., to Grand Forks, N.D.

-$14 million to add sub sidings to address congestion from Fargo, N.D., to Glendive, Mont.

-$13 million to add sub sidings to address congestion from Minot, N.D., to Grand Forks, N.D.

-$13 million to add sub sidings and an interchange track to address congestion from Canada to the U.S.

-$11 million for centrailized traffic control to improve service from Bismarck, N.D., to Fargo, N.D.

-$8 million to add sub sidings and conduct signal work along track from Fargo, N.D., to Minot, N.D.

The company also recently issued a request for proposal to major rail-car manufacturers to submit bids for the construction of 5,000 next-generation tank cars used to move crude oil.

http://thebakken.com/articles/551/bnsf-plans-record-nd-investments-in-2014