Topeka Capital-Journal Ensure rail safety

What happened in East Palestine, Ohio, is tragic, awful and deeply concerning.

We hope the residents get some answers and find a way forward. We also hope this accident means we can start to see change in the rail industry.

It’s not impossible to fathom the next East Palestine could be in Kansas. Really, it could happen to any small town with a railway. Heck, it could happen to a big one, too.

Imagine if an accident like that happened in Newton, Auburn or Alma? Imagine if it happened in Topeka, Manhattan or Wichita? What could something like that mean for our communities? For our state?

We don’t want to find out. And we need to do what we can to prevent it from happening.

The Topeka Capital-Journal’s Andrew Bahl reports states across the country are considering improvements to rail safety in the wake of the East Palestine accident. Nationally, 15 states have introduced legislation to limit train length, increase safety mechanisms and ensure adequate crew sizes.

In Kansas, these ideas have long been proposed but have not gotten much traction due to long-running legal concerns. But there are signs that might be changing. …

Legislation in the Senate Transportation Committee would prohibit freight companies from running trains of over 8,500 feet in length. They also would be required to leave 250 feet between any rail crossings and cars being stored nearby.

The rail industry seems to believe this law won’t hold up if passed.

Nevertheless, we appreciate the legislature for taking up the issue and giving it consideration.

It’s nice to see that local and state officials are asking questions, trying to be proactive in preventing derailments in Kansas. The legalese might make this difficult, but we wish them luck. It’s too important not to try.

We want to make sure Kansas stays safe from avoidable disasters.