A growing tally of oil-train derailments so far this year in the U.S. and Canada—some involving newer, supposedly safer tank cars—has called more attention to what politicians and environmental groups see as poorly maintained, aging infrastructure throughout North America's freight rail network. To address the public's concern, the American Association of Railroads says its members are spending $29 billion on infrastructure and equipment in 2015 alone.
In a March 9 letter to President Barack Obama, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) said preliminary reports from the scene of recent oil train accidents suggest "rail infrastructure has been to blame" for the derailments. "We have also seen evidence of deteriorating bridges in our state on rail lines that carry crude oil and have called on railroads to repair them swiftly," she said.