(The Associated Press circulated the following article on February 16.)
CASSELTON, N.D. — The mayor of this city is hopeful BNSF Railway will scrub a plan to increase train speeds by 20 mph through town.
“At this point time it’s my guess they will, but I wouldn’t bet my legs on it,” Mayor Ed McConnell said Wednesday.
Gov. John Hoeven and Casselton residents met with BNSF officials to discuss the railroad’s proposal to raise the maximum speeds through Casselton from 40 mph to 60 mph.
BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said the railroad will wait before making a decision.
“It is now under further review,” Melonas said Wednesday.
City officials oppose the faster trains, citing two nearby derailments, potential health and safety risks and damage to historic downtown buildings caused by vibrations from the trains.
McConnell said about 38 trains pass through Casselton daily.
“They have dumped a bunch of trains off the tracks in our vicinity in the past several years,” McConnell said. “We are vehemently opposed to increasing speeds.”
Melonas said railroad officials believe higher speeds would be safe.
“We appreciate the opportunity to meet with the city to discuss concerns,” he said. “Safety is our top priority and we are confident that our proposal is safe. We have raised speeds across our system and have not had problems.”
Hoeven said the state is joining city residents in opposing increased train speeds through Casselton, a Cass County town of about 1,800 people.
“The state has the exact some position as the people of Casselton,” Hoeven said. “We feel trains need to be held to 40 mph and not increased.”
BNSF announced in December that it wanted to increase train speeds through the city. McConnell said the city then contacted Sen. Byron Dorgan to help fight the proposal.
In a letter last month to Dorgan, railroad chairman and chief executive Matthew Rose said “increasing train velocity is an important element in maximizing the output of our network.” He said faster trains help speed service to grain shippers and shorten delays for drivers.
Dorgan arranged the meeting with railroad officials and Casselton residents.
McConnell said the city can’t stop the railroad from raising the speed limit. He said the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that ordinances passed by towns to restrict train speed were illegal.
“It’s going to take the goodwill of the railroad to make it happen,” McConnell said.
“If the railroad increases speeds through town and something happens, I think they would be in a very bad position with the court,” he said. “I’m sure they’ll give that some consideration.”