The Department of Transportation has issued emergency rules to keep parked rail cars from breaking loose, following last month’s .
“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.
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