Dec 10, 2007 5:37 pm US/Eastern
City Wants CSX Derailment Info Released Quicker
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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City officials want to be able to get answers when and if there are more accidents involving freight trains.
CBS
There's added urgency to the issue of freight trains carrying hazardous materials through Baltimore, after two derailments two days in a row.
Pat Warren reports the incidents last week only added to existing concerns about safety and information.
City officials want to be able to get answers when and if there are more accidents like the one in November involving a CSX freight train derailment.
Last week, freight cars on two more trains jumped the tracks.
The city and state are looking for a satisfactory system for letting them
know which trains are carrying what through the city and when.
"We really have some strong demands that we'll be putting on CSX as relates to the trains coming through the city, the hazardous waste, materials coming through, what impact that's going to have and what their plans are. We're going to make sure people are going to be safe in their community," said Mayor Sheila Dixon.
The accident on Nov. 24 cast a spotlight on the potential risk, followed by a decision to take safety measures during the Army/Navy Game at M&T Bank Stadium, when it looked like President Bush might stop by.
As if to highlight the hazards, on Friday a tanker carrying motor oil derailed in Locust Point. It flipped on its side, but didn't spill its load.
Then just a day later, around 10:30 a.m. Saturday three cars derailed near the 5100 block of Pulaski Highway. Two cars were carrying highly flammable ethanol.
Mayor Sheila Dixon says a meeting is scheduled Wednesday with CSX.
A CSX spokesman says the incident last week remains under investigation and the freight line continues to work with officials in addressing safety concerns.
The 2001 CSX train derailment in the Howard Street Tunnel prompted the city to file a $10 million lawsuit against CSX, but they later settled for $2 million.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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