The Wall St. Journal reports that “oil companies and railroads have united to fight some proposed federal rules on oil-train safety after a year of pointing fingers at each other over explosive accidents.”  

“Industry groups representing railroads and energy companies on Tuesday told the U.S. Transportation Department that they need more than two years to build safer railcars to haul crude.”  

“The department’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in July proposed safety rules for oil trains that would create new standards for tank-car brakes, other components, speed limits and special routes around populated areas. The department’s proposals also seek to scrap some of the oldest railcars while upgrading others.”