(Source: AlterNet, March 18, 2014)
NEW YORK — Spurred by the shale drilling rush that has progressed at breakneck speed, the railroad industry has moved fast to help drillers transport petroleum and its byproducts to consumers. Last year, trains hauled over 400,000 carloads of crude oil, up from just 9,500 carloads in 2008, according to railroad industry estimates. Each carload represents roughly 30,000 gallons of flammable liquids, and some trains haul over 100 oil cars at a time. But with this fast expansion has come some astounding risks — risks that have insurance companies and underwriters increasingly concerned.
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