We've been going through documents from the NTSB and found out there is a need for better tank cars after many safety concerns involving DOT 111 tank cars.
Right now we're still waiting from the NTSB to see if these were the same tank cars involved in the derailment in Lynchburg.
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Some of the problems include being able to withstand punctures, damages to the housings, and tank handle failures. Unfortunately, a lot of these trains are on the tracks. We found out nearly 40,000 DOT 111 cars are used to transport ethanol which makes up 70% of all tank cars.
Trains transporting crude oil like the one involved in the derailment in Lynchburg have been on the rise too. Recently the NTSB held a forum on the problem of crude oil and the DOT 111 cars and many expressed their concerns that something needs to chance.
So far, there have been 281 DOT 111 tank cars derailed since 2006.
"The reality is even with a holistic approach sooner or later one train is going to come off the tracks and if it's not properly constructed it will be catastrophic," says Robert Sumwalt, member of the NTSB.
Some tank car changes have been suggested by those in the railroad industry. The Association of American Railroads say it can improve safety by 85% such as adding more jacket and thermal protection to the tank.