Re: “Freight railroads police themselves and inspect their own tracks. Some say a disaster is inevitable.” (Oct. 8):

Mainers should be confident in freight railroads to safely move goods. The industry must further reduce incidents and upgrade infrastructure, but context matters.

The U.S. maintains the top freight rail network in the world, made possible by billions in private capital annually. Domestically, the American Society of Civil Engineers has rated rail the nation’s single best type of physical infrastructure in the country. Railroads are by far the safest way to transport hazardous material on land and continue to make historic reductions on mainline accident rates and employee injuries.

U.S. railroads are highly regulated and subject to rigorous safety protocols that they regularly exceed through voluntary means. For instance, detectors alongside the network that identify wheel defects exist today because companies like CPKC and CSX – which operate in Maine – installed them on their own. These companies have a natural incentive to operate as safely as possible. It is good for business and the communities they operate in.

Railroads train and maintain close coordination with local authorities and operate a tool called AskRail that enables first responders to identify the contents of rail cars.

Ultimately, railroads take freight off highways, are environmentally efficient and serve vital industries. They are a net positive to Maine and the U.S.

Ian Jefferies
president and CEO, Association of American Railroads
Washington, D.C.

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