Washington, D.C.-The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with Dow Chemical Company, Union Pacific Railroad, and the Union Tank Car Company to develop new railcar technology to enhance the strength and safety of hazardous materials tank cars. The Next Generation Rail Tank Car Project will help FRA establish design standards that the agency hopes to implement in 2008. “Our goal is to jump beyond incremental design changes,” said FRA Administrator Joseph Boardman. “We and our partners are looking to apply the latest research and advanced technology to provide increased safety for rail shipments posing the greatest safety risk.” According to FRA, the agreement provides for extensive information sharing and cooperation between ongoing FRA and industry safety research programs for rail shipments of hazardous commodities such as toxic-by-inhalation hazards and high risk gases and liquids. This includes efforts to strengthen the structural integrity of tank cars by examining types of materials and the outer shell thickness, as well as research into insulation materials between the outer shell and inner tank. In addition, FRA said it is evaluating technology such as pushback couplers, energy absorbers, and anti-climbing devices designed to prevent a derailment of the tank car by keeping it upright and on the tracks after an accident. To date, FRA has held two public meetings in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to receive comments on the design and operation of hazardous materials tank cars, and anticipates holding a third meeting in early 2007.
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