Letter to the editor: Study in article is unfair to railroads’ safety records

The article “Trains carrying more oil across U.S.” in the Dec. 29 issue of The Jamestown Sun misleads readers about the vital role railroads are playing to meet the booming need to transport crude oil in North America.

When it comes to moving crude oil and other hazardous liquids, railroads and pipelines both have strong safety records. By citing a flawed report by the Manhattan Institute, the story claims that pipelines are “more safe” than rail.

However, the report cherry picks data by counting rail hazmat spills no matter how small, but excluding all pipeline incidents below 5 gallons. Nationwide, $23 billion has been invested in privately owned and maintained rail infrastructure to help improve tracks. These investments ensure that freight railroads can meet the demands of the global economy. While additional pipelines will be built in the years ahead, the competitive advantages railroads offer will ensure rail continues to support the need to safely move crude oil long into the future.

Reilly is the senior vice president of the Association of American Railroads

Tags: opinion, letters, safety, energy