Times Union | April 27, 2015 | Post by Eric Anderson

The Federal Railroad Administration this morning issued a new rule requiring oil trains and other trains carrying hazardous substances to travel no faster than 40 mph through so-called “high-threat urban communities,” as identified in federal regulations.

The Capital Region, as well as Syracuse and Rochester, aren’t included in the list of communities covered, according to a list accompanying the regulation.

The FRA said the lower speed limit is intended to reduce the likelihood of a tank car breach in an accident. It said the newer CPC-1232 tank cars appeared in at least two recent derailments to be more resilient than the older DOT-111 tank cars, with “just one” punctured in a Lynchburg, Va., derailment and none in a derailment in Galena, Ill. Both derailments nevertheless resulted in explosions and fires, even though the trains were traveling at about 23 mph, according to the FRA.

Class I railroads have already adopted the speed regulation voluntarily, the FRA said in its announcement. Tank trains outside the defined high-threat urban areas can continue to travel up to 50 mph. The new regulation is here.

http://blog.timesunion.com/business/new-oil-train-safety-rule-doesnt-apply-to-albany/65657/