(The following story by Chris Paschenko appeared on The Galveston County Daily News website on February 19, 2010.)
SANTA FE, Texas — The speed of railroad traffic through Santa Fe has the mayor concerned for residents’ safety after Thursday’s 22-car derailment, the second on that stretch of track in six months.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe tankers, including 10 that carried propane, toppled near city hall, but only two cars punctured, spilling an asphalt-based oil and solid waste.
Residents were evacuated as a precaution until authorities learned the spill wasn’t a public threat. No injuries were reported.
A similar situation unfolded Aug. 22 when 12 Union Pacific cars carrying a small amount of toxic chemicals left the tracks at Mustang Road about 6 miles west of Thursday’s derailment.
No injuries were reported.
BNSF several years ago sent the city a letter, informing leaders the speed at which trains travel through Santa Fe would increase to 55 mph, Santa Fe Mayor Ralph Stenzel said.
“We thought that was excessive, due to the location,” Stenzel said.
The Federal Railroad Administration sets rail speed limits, BNSF spokesman Joe Faust said.
“I hope in light of what has happened today, even though speed might not have been a factor, that they consider speed when going through our municipality,” Stenzel said.
“Two this close together are a safety concern,” Stenzel said. “The faster a train goes affects how much collateral damage was done. Slower trains just fall off the tracks. If you’re doing 55 mph, it could cause more damage.”
As BNSF probes the cause of Thursday’s crash, Union Pacific spokeswoman Raquel Espinoza-Williams said the cause of the Aug. 22 crash remains under investigation.
Faust had no information related to BNSF’s inspection of the tracks through Santa Fe but said the company would research the matter.
“We do monitor the track, and we have frequent inspections,” Faust said.
Trains don’t always reach maximum speeds set by the administration, Faust said.
Faust had no immediate information about how fast the train traveled before Thursday’s derailment.
The railroad sends letters to cities so leaders can alert residents to any increases in rail traffic, Faust said.
Messages left late Thursday afternoon with the Federal Railroad Administration weren’t returned.