AFTER TERRIFYING TRAIN DERAILMENT IN EAST AURORA LAST NIGHT, SCHUMER DEMANDS INVESTIGATION FROM FEDS; TRAIN WAS CARRYING HIGHLY FLAMMABLE MATERIALS AND OVERTURNED ENGINES WERE LEAKING DIESEL FUEL
Freight Train Derailed in the Village of East Aurora Last Night; 15 Cars & 3 Engines Overturned, Nearby Residents Evacuated
Senator Says Full-Scale Investigation Must Be Launched To Determine Cause of Derailment And Implement Future Preventative Measures
Schumer to Feds: Get Chugging On An Investigation And Get Freight Train Safety Back On Track
After a freight train derailment last night in the Village of East Aurora, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer called on the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to launch a full and thorough investigation into the cause of the incident. Schumer said that while last night’s derailment had no injuries because residents were able to quickly evacuate the area, the situation could have been much worse given that the train was transporting highly flammable petrochemicals and diesel fuel from the engine was leaking.
“This isn’t the first time a terrifying train derailment has happened in New York, and we need a full-scale investigation ASAP to sort out what happened and what actions should be implemented to prevent it from happening again,” said Senator Schumer. “With better safety measures, accidents like the one last night in East Aurora are preventable, which is why I am calling on the Federal Railroad Administration to conduct a full and thorough investigation into the incident. New Yorkers deserve to sleep in peace and not worry about the possibility of a freight train overturning into their backyard.”
Senator Schumer’s letter to the Federal Railroad Administration can be found below:
Dear Administrator Batory:
Last night, a freight train operated by Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad derailed in the Village of East Aurora, NY. According to local reports, 15 cars and three engines, of 98 cars, were derailed. While fortunately no injuries were reported, residents in the surrounding area had to be evacuated for their own safety. It has come to my attention that the train was carrying highly flammable petrochemicals and diesel fuel from the engine had to be cleaned up at the site.
Again, while it is fortunate there were no injuries, the situation could have been much worse. I call on the Federal Railroad Administration to conduct a full and thorough investigation into the cause of this incident and report any appropriate steps that should be taken to prevent such future incidents.
This is not the first time a railroad car carrying highly flammable materials has derailed in Western New York. In 2017, a CSX freight train derailed at the railroad crossing at Donahue Road in the town of Batavia, with one of the overturned cars carrying flammable gunpowder. Freight trains carrying flammable Bakken shale products routinely make shipments through New York and more must be done to ensure that cargo is carried safely.
I look forward to hearing the results of your investigation and working with you to implement safer standards and procedures to prevent future train derailments. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff.
Sincerely,
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