OLYMPIA, Wash. — The state of Washington has joined the list of those considering legislation to limit the length of freight trains.
The Columbia Basin Herald reports that state’s House Transportation Committee heard testimony Tuesday on House Bill 1839, by Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (D-Seattle), that would limit the length of trains operating within the state of 7,500 feet. That’s 1,000 feet shorter than similar bills currently under consideration in Arizona and Iowa [see “Arizona bill to limit trains …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 20, 2023, and “Iowa legislation to limit train length …,” News Wire, Jan 27, 2023].
The bill would set fines of not less than $25,000 for the first offense, not less than $250,000 for the second offense, and would double each subsequent offense. It would allow trains of up to 10,000 feet if “additional crewmembers are assigned to the train, with no less than one additional crew member positioned on the rear of excess-length trains to observe the forward moment and monitor the safe operation of such trains.”
Santos testified that the legislation was in response to the Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and to address the problems caused when long trains block grade crossings for extended periods of time.
Johan Hellman, executive director of public affairs for BNSF Railway, said the bill would make it more expensive for shippers to use Washington’s ports and increase pollution by requiring more trains to move the same amount of cargo.
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