SANTA FE, Texas -- Although two train derailments on Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks prompted safety concerns, the railroad hasn't reduced the speed of rail traffic through Santa Fe, The Galveston County Daily News reports.
Twenty-two cars and tankers, carrying propane, asphalt-based oil and other materials, jumped BNSF tracks Feb. 18 a block south of city hall, prompting evacuations of 80 people within a mile of the incident.
Only oil and solid waste leaked from two cars, the rail line said.
Another derailment Aug. 22 involved 12 Union Pacific cars carrying trace amounts of hazardous chemicals in mostly empty tankers. The cars left BNSF tracks near Mustang Road, about 6 miles west of city hall.
No injuries were reported in either incident.
BNSF declined to name the types of hazardous chemicals transported along state Highway 6, saying firefighters, police and emergency management officials have that information to gauge appropriate responses to spills.
"It's everything imaginable to man," Santa Fe Fire Chief Tommy Anderson said.
Hydrogen fluoride was among the trace chemicals aboard the Aug. 22 derailment.
When the gas is unleased into the environment, the list of ailments from short-term exposure is long, including severe respiratory damage, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
There are roughly 22 to 26 trains traveling through Santa Fe each day, Anderson said.
"Anything that has to be shipped that's brought into the ports of Galveston and Texas City ... has to come through Santa Fe," Anderson said. "The only thing not transferred on rail that's hazardous material is explosives. They don't allow explosives to come out of Galveston that way." Speed: 'Is it worth it?'
The causes of both derailments remain under investigation, but even though speed might not have factored in the incidents, Santa Fe Mayor Ralph Stenzel questions why the tracks are rated at 55 mph through town.
The potential for collateral damage increases with speed, Stenzel said.
"They're going to save a little bit of time, but it's really not worth it," Stenzel said.
BNSF's tracks are rated at 55 mph, and although the trains will at times travel slower than the posted track speed, it isn't mandating a speed reduction through Santa Fe, BNSF spokesman Joe Faust said.
The decision to lower the speed would be made based on what the investigation into the derailment reveals, Faust said.
"We're going to examine a number of things, including the operating speed going through the community," Faust said. "That doesn't necessarily mean we're going to make a change."
The Federal Railroad Administration said local or state governments can't establish their own train speed limits over highway-rail grade crossings or through urban settings unless the governments meet an "extremely high legal standard."
The safest train is one that maintains a steady speed, the administration said. Locally established restrictions would result in hundreds of speed reductions, the administration said.
"This would not only delay trains but could cause an increase in the chance of derailment," the administration said.
When a train slows and increases speed, cars are compressed together or stretched along the train's length, the administration said.
BNSF is in the process of scheduling or has set up a meeting with city officials to discuss concerns, Faust said.
(The preceding article by By Chris Paschenko was published March 1, 2010, by The Daily News.)
SANTA FE, Texas Although two train derailments on BNSF tracks prompted safety concerns, the railroad hasnt reduced the speed of rail traffic through Santa Fe, the Galveston County Daily News reports.
Twenty-two cars and tankers, carrying propane, asphalt-based oil and other materials, jumped BNSF tracks Feb. 18 a block south of city hall, prompting evacuations of 80 people within a mile of the incident.
Only oil and solid waste leaked from two cars, the rail line said.
Another derailment Aug. 22 involved 12 Union Pacific cars carrying trace amounts of hazardous chemicals in mostly empty tankers. The cars left BNSF tracks near Mustang Road, about 6 miles west of city hall.
No injuries were reported in either incident.
BNSF declined to name the types of hazardous chemicals transported along state Highway 6, saying firefighters, police and emergency management officials have that information to gauge appropriate responses to spills.
Its everything imaginable to man, Santa Fe Fire Chief Tommy Anderson said.
Hydrogen fluoride was among the trace chemicals aboard the Aug. 22 derailment.
When the gas is unleashed into the environment, the list of ailments from short-term exposure is long, including severe respiratory damage, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
There are roughly 22 to 26 trains traveling through Santa Fe each day, Anderson said.
Anything that has to be shipped thats brought into the ports of Galveston and Texas City has to come through Santa Fe, Anderson said. The only thing not transferred on rail thats hazardous material is explosives. They dont allow explosives to come out of Galveston that way.
The causes of both derailments remain under investigation, but even though speed might not have factored in the incidents, Santa Fe Mayor Ralph Stenzel questions why the tracks are rated at 55 mph through town.
The potential for collateral damage increases with speed, Stenzel said.
Theyre going to save a little bit of time, but its really not worth it, Stenzel said.
BNSFs tracks are rated at 55 mph, and although the trains will at times travel slower than the posted track speed, it isnt mandating a speed reduction through Santa Fe, BNSF spokesman Joe Faust said.
The decision to lower the speed would be made based on what the investigation into the derailment reveals, Faust said.
Were going to examine a number of things, including the operating speed going through the community, Faust said. That doesnt necessarily mean were going to make a change.
The Federal Railroad Administration said local or state governments cant establish their own train speed limits over highway-rail grade crossings or through urban settings unless the governments meet an extremely high legal standard.
The safest train is one that maintains a steady speed, the administration said. Locally established restrictions would result in hundreds of speed reductions, the administration said.
This would not only delay trains but could cause an increase in the chance of derailment, the administration said.
When a train slows and increases speed, cars are compressed together or stretched along the trains length, the administration said.
BNSF is in the process of scheduling or has set up a meeting with city officials to discuss concerns, Faust said.
(This item appeared March 1, 2010, in the Galveston County Daily News.)
