Canada's National Railways Apply Surcharges To Crude Oil Transport in Older Tank Cars

摘要

Canada's national railways have applied new surcharges to shipments of crude oil in a bid to encourage shippers to use tank cars that pose less risk of environmental damage when accidents occur. However, crude oil shippers suggested the higher rates are intended to deflect attention from the railways' lack of focus on the safety of oil shipments before the July 2013 rail disaster in Lac-Megantic, Quebec. Eldon Fandrick, business development manager with oil shipper Liquids in Motion Ltd., based in Leduc, Alberta, said Feb. 19 the railways' decision to impose higher rates on older-standard tank cars is part of public relations efforts in the wake of the disaster.