crs1026
Superstar
This topic may seem out of scope for the GTA, but if you think about it, the decision to increase shipment of Alberta oil has direct impact on the GTA, since both major railways run right through this urban area. I find it interesting that we don't have a specific ongoing forum about safety issues and impacts this presents.
Anyways - here's my thought.
We know that Alberta is about to fund a large scale procurement for railcars for shipping oil. (Personally I think pipelines are the better way to go, but we don't seem to be getting very far with that, and Alberta has every good reason to want to get on with moving oil). Some of this oil will likely pass through Toronto, so it's our problem too.
My point is: Surely this is the right time and place to insist on the cars in oil train service having a more modern braking system.
At the very least, oil cars in unit train service ought to be hard-connected into 5ish-packs, similar to intermodal cars.... in the interest of braking effectiveness. This could lead to a similar transition in other dedicated fleets - grain being a good example - without the impacts that the railroads will whine about ie having to equip every last car in North America before something can be done.
I don't have a preferred detailed technical solution, and I defer to experts, but after the Yoho incident I just hate to see everyone assume the status quo when it need not be that way. Insanity is repeating the same thing and expecting a different result....how do you create forward movement in an industry like railroading? This may be the moment.
I actually intend to write a few letters on the topic. Just throwing this out there for others' consideration.
- Paul
Anyways - here's my thought.
We know that Alberta is about to fund a large scale procurement for railcars for shipping oil. (Personally I think pipelines are the better way to go, but we don't seem to be getting very far with that, and Alberta has every good reason to want to get on with moving oil). Some of this oil will likely pass through Toronto, so it's our problem too.
- These new cars will be in dedicated unit train service, as opposed to loose car interchange service
- We know that the traditional air brake system has its flaws - as we've seen at Lac Megantic and recently at Yoho
- There is government money available, so it's not a question of impacting some private investor
- There are proven ways to improve on traditional braking - such as a second brakeline to constantly recharge reservoirs, and maybe other things
- Shipping oil has extra risk
- When I look at these major tragedies, my personal conclusion is that the traditional air brake technology is no longer viable, especially as trains get longer.
My point is: Surely this is the right time and place to insist on the cars in oil train service having a more modern braking system.
At the very least, oil cars in unit train service ought to be hard-connected into 5ish-packs, similar to intermodal cars.... in the interest of braking effectiveness. This could lead to a similar transition in other dedicated fleets - grain being a good example - without the impacts that the railroads will whine about ie having to equip every last car in North America before something can be done.
I don't have a preferred detailed technical solution, and I defer to experts, but after the Yoho incident I just hate to see everyone assume the status quo when it need not be that way. Insanity is repeating the same thing and expecting a different result....how do you create forward movement in an industry like railroading? This may be the moment.
I actually intend to write a few letters on the topic. Just throwing this out there for others' consideration.
- Paul