DOT to Discuss Rail Safety Improvement in Casselton
CASSELTON, N.D. (AP) — The head of the U.S. Department of Transportation is planning to meet with community leaders in Casselton to discuss efforts to improve rail safety since a fiery oil train derailment outside the eastern North Dakota town in December.
DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx is scheduled to speak at a round table event Thursday afternoon at the Casselton fire department. The state's congressional delegation asked Foxx to come to North Dakota.
The accident happened on Dec. 30 when a train carrying soybeans derailed in front of a BNSF oil train, causing that train to also derail and set off a fire. There were no injuries, but residents were urged to evacuate.
The crash spilled about 400,000 gallons of crude that was being shipped from the oil patch in western North Dakota.