New rail tank cars will feature significantly enhanced safety and security attributes, according to the newly formed Chlorine Rail Tank Car Development Coordination Panel. Made up of Occidental Chemical Corp., the Dow Chemical Company, US Magnesium LLC and Bayer Material Science, the Coordination Panel noted it’s a logical progression to the next generation of safe and secure rail tank cars.
In addition to safety, there is some implication this could help in the battle to avoid rail routing concerns surrounding hazardous materials (HAZMAT). Various groups and municipalities have sought to have regulations put in place to re-route rail HAZMAT shipments away from population centers. This, said the Panel, could seriously affect efficiency. Though the group stopped short of saying the tank car enhancements planned for these new cars would help avoid problems with routing, it did point out that the modifications, along with better puncture resistance, crashworthiness etc. were positive steps.
