CRAMER: NTSB PUBLISHES HEIMDAL RAILROAD ACCIDENT REPORT
BISMARCK, N.D. – Congressman Kevin Cramer announced today the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its accident report and safety recommendations stemming from the May 6, 2015 train derailment near Heimdal, ND.
“I vividly remember arriving on the accident scene and seeing the damage caused by the derailment. Thankfully, the quick response by first responders and railway officials helped ensure property damage was kept to a minimum. I look forward to reviewing the accident report and working to help implement the recommended changes.”
Congressman Cramer Discusses the Heimdal Derailment with Rail and Local Officials
NTSB Report Summary:
A broken wheel led to the derailment of six of the 107 loaded tank cars carrying crude oil in a Burlington Northern Santa Fe crude oil unit train May 6, 2015, near Heimdal. No injuries or fatalities were reported in connection with the derailment, however five of the derailed tank cars breached, releasing about 96,400 gallons of crude oil. A fire ensued, forcing the evacuation of about 30 people from Heimdal and the surrounding area due to the smoke plume. The NTSB determined the left wheel, in the second position on car 81 was broken due to a vertical split rim which led to catastrophic failure of the wheel due to multiple overstress fractures. As a result of the investigation the NTSB issued two safety recommendations to the Federal Railroad Administration to research and evaluate wheel impact load thresholds and to mandate remedial actions for railroads to avoid or identify mechanical defects identified by wheel impact load detectors. A third recommendation was issued to both the FRA and the Association of American Railroads seeking collaboration in evaluation of safe peak vertical load thresholds to determine remedial actions for suspected defective wheel conditions in high-hazard flammable train service.
The Heimdal, North Dakota, railroad accident brief is available online at http://go.usa.gov/xndbK.