tank cars

DOT issues open-ended NPRM on CBR, other flammable fuels

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Wednesday, July 23, 2014, issued a long-anticipated Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) involving a new, stricter set of rules for crude-by-rail (CBR) train movements and other shipments of “flammable fuels,” designated as HHFT (high-hazard flammable trains). A 60-day comment period is now in effect.

Tank Car of the Future among more Greenbrier railcar contracts

Not including orders for 7,000 new railcars worth $700 million announced May 21, 2014, Greenbrier has been awarded contracts for 7,700 cars from multiple buyers valued at more than $960 million. Among the orders are 3,500 Tank Cars of the Future from multiple customers in the U.S. and Canada, “the first awards in the rail industry for a dramatically improved tank car for transporting flammables,” Greenbrier said.

Greenbrier opens Dallas-Fort Worth regional hub

The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. has opened a new regional hub in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that “positions us closer to the bulk of our customer base and North American operations, as well as the important Gulf Coast and Midwest energy and downstream markets,” according to Chairman and CEO William A. Furman.

Transport Canada toughens CBR safety regs

Trains carrying 20 cars or more of crude oil or ethanol must not exceed 50 mph under a new directive issued by Transport Canada on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, and that limit may be lowered for some locations after specific risk assessments for particular urban populations and sensitive assets such as water sources.

New tank car builder coming on line

West Brookfield, Mass.-based freight car lessor Boxcar Services LLC has 
merged with Vertex Rail Technologies LLC to form Vertex Rail
 Manufacturing. Beginning in second-quarter 2014, Vertex Rail will
 manufacture tank cars, boxcars, and covered hoppers at facilities located
 in Worcester, Mass., and Wilmington, N.C. 



RSICTC to USDOT: We’re tired of waiting

The Railway Supply Institute Committee on Tank Cars (RSICTC) has called on the U.S. Department of Transportation to get moving on new safety measures for tank cars carrying crude oil and ethanol. 

Greenbrier to offer new-gen tank cars, retrofits

The Greenbrier Companies announced on Feb. 5, 2014 that it will design a new-generation tank car for rail transport of hazardous freight, including flammable crude oil and ethanol, “that can better withstand the additional demands associated with operating unit trains” and “respond to safety criticisms of the existing legacy fleet of older DOT-111 tank cars.” Greenbrier is also introducing retrofits for tank cars already in service or now being produced, “significantly enhancing the safety of existing cars.”

RSI to SecDOT: Include us re: CBR

The Railway Supply Institute (RSI) is urging Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to include tank car manufacturers and other parties in any effort to improve tank car safety, particularly when related to crude-by-rail (CBR) developments.

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