Union Pacific Faulted for Failure to Maintain Track

The Federal Railroad Administration said it has made a preliminary determination that the derailment of a crude oil train in Oregon earlier this month resulted from the failure of Union Pacific Corp. to maintain its track.

The FRA said its preliminary investigation of the accident that occurred on June 3 near Mosier, Ore., found specifically that the derailment was caused by broken bolts that eventually allowed the rails to be pushed outward as trains moved across them. The findings were made in what the FRA said was a "preliminary factual findings report."

The report said the train was traveling at about 25 miles an hour, which was within the speed limit. A total of 16 tank cars derailed, it said. During the derailment, one tank car was punctured, which led to a fire of four tank cars that burned for about 14 hours, the FRA report says.

The FRA said that the type of track bolts that were broken are detectable by walking inspection and, among other things, uneven wear of the track.

A spokesman for Union Pacific wasn't immediately available for comment.

Write to Betsy Morris at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 23, 2016 13:45 ET (17:45 GMT)

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