The U.S. transportation regulators unveil new rules regarding tank cars transporting crude oil, ethanol and other flammable liquids. The directive tightens crude-by-rail shipments by requiring trains be equipped with the new expensive brake system.

Announced on Friday, the new safety railcar rules not only include the specification of brake control system but as well as the enhancement of tank cars standards and speed limitations.

Trains carrying large amount of crude oil are subject to 30 mile per hour speed restriction. This will be imposed to the trains not equipped with the new electronic brake system by 2021. High volumes of ethanol and other flammable liquids will be subject to speed restriction after 2023.

As part of the new rules, trains carrying the most volatile class of liquids must be equipped with electronically controlled brakes. This brake system will enable all of the cars of a train to automatically stop at the same time.
 

The newly introduced rules encourage rail companies to replace/retrofit older tank cars. According to the US Department of Transportation (DOT), “tank cars which are not retrofitted would be retired, repurposed, or operated under speed restriction for up to five years.”

Following the stringent implementation of the new rules in railroad safety, thousands of older tank cars known as DOT-111S are expected to be phased out within a span of 3 years.

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