Critics are questioning the safety practices of the largest shipper of oil-by-rail, Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), which hauls some 20 crude-oil trains a day into Washington and plans to ship even more. EarthFix’s Ashley Ahearn and Tony Schick present the most comprehensive story to date on safety critics within the BNSF system; they interviewed more than a dozen BNSF current and former employees as well as rail analysts and looked at data from lawsuits and federal agencies. Cases are pending in at least three different states where conductors allege they were fired for insisting on mandatory brake tests, according to EarthFix, a project of Northwest public broadcast outlets. The report acknowledges that BNSF and other major lines have dramatically improved safety in recent years and remains committed to improving safety on the oil trains. Concerns of veteran train workers are sobering, however, particularly as coal and oil train traffic climbs, with more projects on the drawing board. — F.M.
BNSF: Safe enough for oil shipments?
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By Floyd McKay
Floyd J. McKay, professor of journalism emeritus at Western Washington University, was a print and broadcast journalist in Oregon for three decades. He is also a historian and his new book, "Reporting
Floyd J. McKay, professor of journalism emeritus at Western Washington University, was a print and broadcast journalist in Oregon for three decades. He is also a historian and his new book, "Reporting