In the wake of a scary looking tanker car train
derailment,
concerns for rail safety are renewed and along with it,
questions of whether more regulation is needed.
I think the answer has to be somewhere between open
minded and yes,
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy commenting on Thursday morning's derailment
involving a train of more than 90 industrial tank rail
cars in Linden.
It happened around 7:00 on Conrail's Garden State secondary line
along the New Jersey Turnpike.
Linden police say there were no reported injuries or spills.
The governor saying safety is #1.
Seen in the nation, too many of these realities,
and as you rightfully point out,
I'll say it a little bit differently.
We're the most densely populated state in America with a
whole lot of rail tracks.
According to the state, New Jersey's 20 freight railroads run
on more than 1000 miles of track.
What we really need a reform of the system when
it comes to trains.
Advocates for Rail Regulation are speaking out like Delaware River
Keeper Network and nonprofit that advocates for the health of
waterways in the Delaware River watershed,
including New Jersey and New York.
While the derailment did not happen on a passenger line
or passed directly through any neighborhoods,
riverkeeper Maya van Rossum says derailments can have far reaching
consequences.
We need to have the most up-to-date protective regulatory standards
put in put in place for the railcar system.
Across the nation, responders remained on the scene much of
the day.
The cause is still under investigation.