Legislation In Congress, Minnesota Legislature Aims To Address Railway Safety And Emergency Response

By Caroline Cummings, CBS Minnesota

March 31, 2023

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The latest train derailment in Raymond, Minnesota, is renewing calls from lawmakers to pass stronger safety rules to prevent derailments in the first place and improve response if there's an emergency.

BNSF Railway in a statement said approximately 22 cars containing ethanol, which highly flammable, and corn syrup went off the tracks around 1 a.m. Thursday. Four of the cars caught fire and the town was evacuated before authorities authorized residents' return in the afternoon.

The same time the derailed train burned Thursday morning, a bill designed to prepare for similar incidents in the future was officially introduced in the Minnesota Legislature.

Click https://www.cbsnews.com/minnes... for a CBS News video report.

CBS Local Digital Media personalizes the global reach of CBS-owned and operated television and radio stations with a local perspective.