The New York Times, 10/9:
Railroad Agency to detail New Rail-Track Standards
Federal authorities detailed new rail-track standards on Friday after finding that a broken rail caused an oil train to derail this year in West Virginia.
SNIP
"What this broken rail incident shows us is that we need to insert ourselves and put some pretty high standards in place. It’s important to remind folks that the rail and track issues are important too,” said Sarah Feinberg, the agency’s acting administrator. “We have a zero-tolerance policy on crude routes, because the stakes are so high for the communities that live along those tracks."
Railroads own their tracks and are responsible for their maintenance and regular inspection. Ms. Feinberg said the agency had asked the railroad industry and other stakeholders in 2012 to come up with recommendations about setting new standards to address track safety but had failed to reach a consensus on the issue.
More here.