(Source: Column by Ellen Montgomery published in The Pueblo Chieftain, November 11, 2023)
Recent derailments clearly show the dangers that long trains carrying toxic substances pose for the environment. Shipping toxic chemicals through our communities and alongside our rivers and streams is a horrible idea destined for disaster. We need to do better. One piece of the solution is to regulate train lengths. Earlier this month, the Colorado State Transportation Legislative Review Committee agreed to bring a bill to the state legislature that will limit the length of trains to 8,500 feet and increase the frequency of trackside defect detectors. This would reduce stress on rails and therefore reduce the overall risk of derailments for all trains across the state.
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