RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina has joined the list of states introducing new railroad safety legislation in the wake of the East Palestine derailment and toxic chemical release, with a bill addressing train lengths, crew size, wayside detectors, and blocked crossings, among other features.
The Railroad Safety Omnibus Act, HB639, was introduced earlier this month by state Reps. Howard Penny (R-Harnett County) and Mike Clampitt (R-Bryson City). It would limit train lengths to 8,500 feet, requires two-person crews, requires wayside defect detectors every 10 to 15 miles, and prohibits blocked grade crossings for more than 10 minutes. Among other provisions, it also requires driver instruction on emergency notification at grade crossings, and would guarantee union representatives the right of entry to railroad property to investigate incidents and complaints reported by crew members.
The bill is currently in the hands of the House Committee on Transportation, but was not addressed at Wednesday’s committee meeting.
Representative from Bryson City? Not the hot bed of railroading. Maybe has ties to Great Smoky mountains RR, so knows railroading. 8500-foot trains. Lucky to get 10 cars a week?