Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Transportation More: Reuters Top News Fracking North Dakota Railroads Oil Trains Have Made Life Miserable In A North Dakota Town Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/r-why-a-small-north-dakota-town-is-taking-on-big-rail-2014-11#ixzz3K9pKFGzK


Ernest Scheyder, Reuters

A two-mile Canadian Pacific train loaded with oil 

ENDERLIN, N.D. (Reuters) - After her shift at the TraXside Cafe in the southeast North Dakota hamlet of Enderlin, all Karla Souer wants to do is go home. Unfortunately for the 38-year-old waitress the commute, which should only last a minute or two, can take a half-an-hour. That's because, chances are, there's a Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd <cp.to> train blocking the tracks somewhere on her route.

She has a lot of company. Partly thanks to North Dakota's energy boom, twenty-eight of the railroad's trains now traverse the city every day. Each carry hundreds of tank cars filled with oil or grain. Some idle as long as four hours, inconveniencing motorists, stranding pedestrians and posing logistical challenges for ambulances and firefighters.

Desperate for a solution, Enderlin's city councilors last month banned train breaks longer than 10 minutes. The railroad has, in turn, sued the city of nearly 900 in federal court. Canadian Pacific contends the order violates interstate commerce laws. The railroad's lawyers also asked a judge to grant a temporary injunction.

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