Sen. Durbin wants tank cars upgraded to avoid repeat of Quebec tragedy

U.S Sen. Dick Durbin met Wednesday with local mayors and federal rail and transportation officials to discuss stricter rules for rail-tank cars carrying crude oil through the Chicago area in increasing amounts.

One-fourth of all U.S. freight traffic rolls through the Chicago area daily, and about 40 trains carrying crude oil pass through Chicago each week, Durbin said at a news conference at DePaul University’s Loop campus.

The increased traffic comes mostly from northwestern states that are producing oil from hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking…” Please click here to read Sandra Guy’s story in the Sun-Times.  A related story can be found here on CBS Chicago. Please click here for more images.