No-Setting9690 t1_j9kmwne wrote
The company has been criticized for lobbying against stricter regulation of the rail industry, including a rule proposed during the Obama administration — and rescinded by the Trump administration — that would have required trains carrying hazardous chemicals to be outfitted with more advanced brake technology, The Washington Post reported.
Sums it up right there.
Indiana_Jawnz t1_j9mg4as wrote
That rule would have only applied to Ethanol and Crude oil trains, so it wouldn't have applied to this train.
It also wouldn't have mattered because the train derailed because a wheel axle hotboxed and failed, it didn't have anything to do with braking.
Electronic Pneumatic braking also has its own problems and issues with little advantage on braking using front and rear locomotives.
No-Setting9690 t1_j9okir9 wrote
Uneducated in the field obviously. Thank you for clarifying this. Is there anything that could have been done to prevent this?
Indiana_Jawnz t1_j9olhp5 wrote
The railroads need to hire more manpower so cars can be inspected better.
They have cut manpower to the bone and overwork who they have now while pushing train sizes to their absolute maximum lengths and weight.
The crews used to get five minutes to inspect each car in their train, now that's down to one. So you have this wheel bearing being missed, overheating (hotboxing) and failing.
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