Canada Moves Ahead of U.S. in Phasing Out Older Crude Oil Tank Cars

"In response to a deadly train derailment last summer, the Canadian government Wednesday ordered the country’s railroads to phase out tens of thousands of older, puncture-prone tank cars from crude oil transportation within three years.

Though Transport Canada and its U.S. equivalent, the Department of Transportation, have been working together to address widespread concerns about the safety of moving large quantities of crude oil and ethanol in trains, the announcement puts Canada a step ahead.

Both countries historically have harmonized their regulation of rail transportation because of the seamless nature of North America’s rail system. Canada’s two largest railroads have significant operations in the United States."

Curtis Tate reports for the McClatchy Washington Bureau April 23, 2014.

SEE ALSO:

"Transport Canada Orders 5,000 Tanker Cars Off the Rail System" (Ottawa Citizen/Postmedia)