![]() Before going on leave last winter, he was driving a three-mile-long Union Pacific train with as much as 18,000 tons of mixed freight on his regular Tucson-to-El Paso route. He can recall when they were just over a mile in length. In his 25 years as a locomotive engineer, Eddie Hall saw his trains grow longer and longer. “I fairly believe that this cost a child’s life, that they weren’t able to get there on time,” she said. Schools superintendent Jana Lowe is one of several local leaders and residents who have been writing and calling Union Pacific for years, warning that obstructions at the Glover Road crossing - such as school buses delayed for hours - could lead to something more horrific. Many residents of Leggett put little stock in such pledges. ![]() We understand the impact blocked crossings have for community residents and work diligently to reduce the amount of time trains occupy the crossing.” “Union Pacific is in the early phases of litigation discovery, investigating the overall factual timeline, including whether the presence of a train had any impact on first responders’ ability to revive K’Twon. “Our hearts go out to K’Twon’s family on this tragic situation,” the company said in a statement. In response, the railway company has offered its sympathy and said it is working to resolve problems at intersections in Leggett and other communities. In Texas, K’Twon’s mother has filed a lawsuit against Union Pacific, claiming its routine blockage of the Glover Road intersection prevented paramedics from reaching her child, thereby causing his death. But while Congress has shown some renewed concern about rail safety, there has been little focus on an everyday safety threat - long trains blocking first responders from getting to emergencies. Much of the nation’s focus has been on a long Norfolk Southern train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, in February, sparking a toxic fireball and prompting state and federal investigations. As they do, they are blocking rural and urban intersections, stoking anger and contributing to tragedies and calamities. Over the past decade, rail corporations have been running more lengthy freight trains - some as long as three miles - partly to save fuel and labor costs. This blocks road crossings and can, in some spots, leave residents with no way in or out. residents say trains stop and wait for long periods, often for locomotive crew changes. (Lee Powell/The Washington Post) RIGHT: Leggett, Tex. (Lee Powell/The Washington Post) LEFT: The Glover Road crossing on the Union Pacific Railroad in Leggett, Tex. (Lee Powell/The Washington Post) Leggett, Tex. The Glover Road crossing on the Union Pacific Railroad in Leggett, Tex.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |