Emergency responders in Fargo area will train on a special rail tanker car equipped with valves and fittings to help them better deal with derailments involving hazardous cargoes. Officials on Monday introduced the “classroom on wheels” and special tanker car, both owned and operated by CATX, a major railcar provider. They said it will help in ongoing efforts to improve rail safety – a heightened concern following last December’s fiery derailment near Casselton. Members of North Dakota’s congressional delegation, present for the announcement, said the training sessions are part of a multipronged approach to improve rail safety. Brian Kenney, president and CEO of CATX, also was on hand for Monday’s announcement. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., noted apartment buildings just north of the rail yard in north Fargo, where the training will take place, as examples of the need to take steps to keep residents safe in the event of derailments of crude oil and other hazardous cargoes. “Just look along the rail even here,” she said. “How many people live in these apartments?”
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said the training and implementation of “effective and practical rules” for tanker care construction, as well as improved infrastructure, all will help to improve rail safety. BNSF Railway, which has two transcontinental rail lines running through Fargo-Moorhead that carry an average of 40 trains with Bakken oil weekly, is investing $400 million in North Dakota alone, part of a $5 billion investment, the railroad has announced. So far, about 60 North Dakota firefighters, including 25 from Fargo, West Fargo and Casselton, have gone to a new rail safety training center near Pueblo, Colo., which was funded by a $5 million initiative backed by Heitkamp and others. In community training sessions, BNSF has helped train 780 first responders in North Dakota this year, BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth said. Fargo Fire Chief Steve Dirksen said the new training center, and efforts like CATX’s mobile training program, will help. Every dollar spent on prevention saves $4 in response costs, he said. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"1202502","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"350","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"750"}}]] “We want to make sure this is a safe community,” he said, adding, “Every day we get better.” Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney recalled the derailment near Casselton and remains grateful it happened outside of town. “It’s a day that will be ingrained in my professional memory for many days to come,” he said, and recalled seeing the fireballs rise in the sky as he drove to the scene. Tweets by @DLNewspapersEmergency responders in Fargo area will train on a special rail tanker car equipped with valves and fittings to help them better deal with derailments involving hazardous cargoes. Officials on Monday introduced the “classroom on wheels” and special tanker car, both owned and operated by CATX, a major railcar provider. They said it will help in ongoing efforts to improve rail safety – a heightened concern following last December’s fiery derailment near Casselton. Members of North Dakota’s congressional delegation, present for the announcement, said the training sessions are part of a multipronged approach to improve rail safety. Brian Kenney, president and CEO of CATX, also was on hand for Monday’s announcement. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., noted apartment buildings just north of the rail yard in north Fargo, where the training will take place, as examples of the need to take steps to keep residents safe in the event of derailments of crude oil and other hazardous cargoes. “Just look along the rail even here,” she said. “How many people live in these apartments?” [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"1202501","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"350","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"750"}}]] Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said the training and implementation of “effective and practical rules” for tanker care construction, as well as improved infrastructure, all will help to improve rail safety. BNSF Railway, which has two transcontinental rail lines running through Fargo-Moorhead that carry an average of 40 trains with Bakken oil weekly, is investing $400 million in North Dakota alone, part of a $5 billion investment, the railroad has announced. So far, about 60 North Dakota firefighters, including 25 from Fargo, West Fargo and Casselton, have gone to a new rail safety training center near Pueblo, Colo., which was funded by a $5 million initiative backed by Heitkamp and others. In community training sessions, BNSF has helped train 780 first responders in North Dakota this year, BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth said. Fargo Fire Chief Steve Dirksen said the new training center, and efforts like CATX’s mobile training program, will help. Every dollar spent on prevention saves $4 in response costs, he said.
“We want to make sure this is a safe community,” he said, adding, “Every day we get better.” Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney recalled the derailment near Casselton and remains grateful it happened outside of town. “It’s a day that will be ingrained in my professional memory for many days to come,” he said, and recalled seeing the fireballs rise in the sky as he drove to the scene. Tweets by @DLNewspapersEmergency responders in Fargo area will train on a special rail tanker car equipped with valves and fittings to help them better deal with derailments involving hazardous cargoes.Officials on Monday introduced the “classroom on wheels” and special tanker car, both owned and operated by CATX, a major railcar provider. They said it will help in ongoing efforts to improve rail safety – a heightened concern following last December’s fiery derailment near Casselton.Members of North Dakota’s congressional delegation, present for the announcement, said the training sessions are part of a multipronged approach to improve rail safety. Brian Kenney, president and CEO of CATX, also was on hand for Monday’s announcement.Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., noted apartment buildings just north of the rail yard in north Fargo, where the training will take place, as examples of the need to take steps to keep residents safe in the event of derailments of crude oil and other hazardous cargoes.“Just look along the rail even here,” she said. “How many people live in these apartments?”
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said the training and implementation of “effective and practical rules” for tanker care construction, as well as improved infrastructure, all will help to improve rail safety.BNSF Railway, which has two transcontinental rail lines running through Fargo-Moorhead that carry an average of 40 trains with Bakken oil weekly, is investing $400 million in North Dakota alone, part of a $5 billion investment, the railroad has announced.So far, about 60 North Dakota firefighters, including 25 from Fargo, West Fargo and Casselton, have gone to a new rail safety training center near Pueblo, Colo., which was funded by a $5 million initiative backed by Heitkamp and others.In community training sessions, BNSF has helped train 780 first responders in North Dakota this year, BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth said.Fargo Fire Chief Steve Dirksen said the new training center, and efforts like CATX’s mobile training program, will help. Every dollar spent on prevention saves $4 in response costs, he said.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"1202502","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"350","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"750"}}]]“We want to make sure this is a safe community,” he said, adding, “Every day we get better.”Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney recalled the derailment near Casselton and remains grateful it happened outside of town.“It’s a day that will be ingrained in my professional memory for many days to come,” he said, and recalled seeing the fireballs rise in the sky as he drove to the scene.Tweets by @DLNewspapersEmergency responders in Fargo area will train on a special rail tanker car equipped with valves and fittings to help them better deal with derailments involving hazardous cargoes.Officials on Monday introduced the “classroom on wheels” and special tanker car, both owned and operated by CATX, a major railcar provider. They said it will help in ongoing efforts to improve rail safety – a heightened concern following last December’s fiery derailment near Casselton.Members of North Dakota’s congressional delegation, present for the announcement, said the training sessions are part of a multipronged approach to improve rail safety. Brian Kenney, president and CEO of CATX, also was on hand for Monday’s announcement.Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., noted apartment buildings just north of the rail yard in north Fargo, where the training will take place, as examples of the need to take steps to keep residents safe in the event of derailments of crude oil and other hazardous cargoes.“Just look along the rail even here,” she said. “How many people live in these apartments?”[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"1202501","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","height":"350","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"750"}}]]Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said the training and implementation of “effective and practical rules” for tanker care construction, as well as improved infrastructure, all will help to improve rail safety.BNSF Railway, which has two transcontinental rail lines running through Fargo-Moorhead that carry an average of 40 trains with Bakken oil weekly, is investing $400 million in North Dakota alone, part of a $5 billion investment, the railroad has announced.So far, about 60 North Dakota firefighters, including 25 from Fargo, West Fargo and Casselton, have gone to a new rail safety training center near Pueblo, Colo., which was funded by a $5 million initiative backed by Heitkamp and others.In community training sessions, BNSF has helped train 780 first responders in North Dakota this year, BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth said.Fargo Fire Chief Steve Dirksen said the new training center, and efforts like CATX’s mobile training program, will help. Every dollar spent on prevention saves $4 in response costs, he said.
“We want to make sure this is a safe community,” he said, adding, “Every day we get better.”Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney recalled the derailment near Casselton and remains grateful it happened outside of town.“It’s a day that will be ingrained in my professional memory for many days to come,” he said, and recalled seeing the fireballs rise in the sky as he drove to the scene.Tweets by @DLNewspapers
