State UTC concerned about oil train safety/ Oil market churns

Washington Rail Safety Regulators Voice Concerns Over Oil Trains

Nov 5, 2014 Waypoints Blog  Earthfix

Another group in Washington is raising concerns over whether the state’s rail infrastructure can safely support an increase in oil trains. 

This time it’s the state’s rail safety regulators.

The state Utilities and Transportation Commission filed comments this week asking that existing track and crossings be evaluated as part of the Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed crude-by-rail terminal in Grays Harbor.

The Grays Harbor Rail Terminal could handle up to 45,000 barrels per day. It and other proposed projects at the Port of Grays Harbor have been projected to increase rail traffic to 12 oil trains per week on a stretch of tracks that the UTC says had three derailments in a little over two weeks earlier this year.

That’s why the UTC is asking the Washington Department of Ecology to require comprehensive track evaluations and updates as part of the EIS, as well as an in-depth analysis of rail crossings between Centralia and Grays Harbor..... read more here


financial speculators see changes in Crude-by-rail outlook:

Now That Pipeline Capacity Could Skyrocket, Should You Sell the Rails?The Motley Fool Canada

 

 

Saudi-US supply war slashes crude oil prices

ABC Online-

The United States, with its huge proven reserves of shale oil, is shaking things up and changing the dynamics of the global crude market.