4 minutes

Dennis Katsnelson

The state of Minnesota is taking steps to increase rail safety after a recent train derailment in west-central Minnesota's Raymond City. Proposed rail security legislation will be introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives on Monday, after a similar bill was approved Friday by a key state Senate committee.

The bill, spearheaded by Minneapolis Democrat Frank Hornstein, seeks to strengthen training requirements for responding to railroad incidents. It also includes a detailed response schedule for hazardous substances, involving oil, and restores a tax on railroads and pipeline companies to cover the cost of emergency preparedness.

The proposed bill is a response to the recent BNSF train incident that derailed and caught fire in Raymond, leading to the evacuation of hundreds of residents. According to Hornstein, this bill would provide Minnesotans along the rail and pipeline lines with the knowledge and tools they need to protect life and property.

Moorhead Democrat Rob Kupek, who authored the bill in the Senate, believes railroads and pipelines are important to the state's economy, but stresses the need for safety measures that protect communities. He says the proposed legislation would help ensure that Minnesota's rail and pipeline operators take responsibility for emergency preparedness and response.

If passed, the railroad security legislation will provide a framework for dealing with accidents and accidents involving hazardous substances on Minnesota's railroad network. The proposed bill would also improve public safety by providing the public with the tools and knowledge needed to effectively respond to any railroad-related incident.