Minnesota proposal seeks to make derailment response more efficient

Minnesota proposal seeks to make derailment response more efficient

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(ABC 6 News) – A Minnesota Senate committee discussed a proposed change to emergency response procedures during train derailments, changing who exactly gets the call when a train leaves the tracks.

“So, routing our notifications through the local public safety answering point, PSAP, uh essentially just asking railroad companies to call 911,” said Daniel Krier, a Minnesota State Fire Marshal.

Right now, the law on the books requires railroad companies to contact specific fire chiefs and emergency managers.

The change would cut the red tape and have those companies just dial 911.

This comes amid rising scrutiny for rail companies, after several high profile derailments last year.