Safety

THE RULE REQUIRING SPECIAL PERMITS TO TRANSPORT LNG ON TRAINS EXPIRED LAST YEAR, making it easier than ever to move it through heavily-populated areas such as Southern Florida.

Although LNG has lower emissions and costs compared to other fuel sources, a potential LNG explosion could "literally level several blocks-even a whole town." Lac Megantic, Canada, experienced a rail disaster in 2013, where 47 people died and 20 buildings were destroyed.

A MAN WAS FOUND DEAD WEDNESDAY MORNING ALONG THE TRACKS NEAR KISSIMMEE, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Investigators have yet to identify the man, or when he was killed.

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The original article was written the WKMG ClickOrlando.

A PEDESTRIAN DIED AFTER BEING STRUCK BY FLORIDA EAST COAT RAILWAY TRAIN TUESDAY EVENING, Stuart police reported.

This is the second fatal train crash that had occurred that day. In the morning, a southbound train struck and killed a person in northern St. Lucie County, a St. Lucie County sheriff's official said.

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PERSON DIED TUESDAY AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A SOUTHBOUND TRAIN, a St. Lucie County sheriff's official said. Fire District crews went to the incident around 10:45 a.m.

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The original article was written by Will Greenlee of TC Palm.

THE EARTHJUSTICE ORGANIZATION FILED A LEGAL CHALLENGE AGAINST A FEDERAL RULE that would allow trains filled with explosive liquified natural gas to travel across the country.

Under this rule, these trains would travel up to 50 mph through densely-populated cities (with tank cars that are unlikely to survive impacts at less than 30 mph).

NEW COMMUTER TRAIN IN NORTHEAST MIAMI-DADE WOULD HAVE UP TO FIVE NEW PLATFORMS ALONG THE FECI'S LINE, BUT BRIGHTLINE/VIRGIN TRAINS USA WILL NOT NECESSARILY STOP AT ANY OF THEM. The proposed commuter platforms, determined by the county, would stop in Wynwood, the Design District, Upper East Side, North Miami and the FIU Biscayne Bay campus as well as connect to Brightline.

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CONGRESSMEN POSEY AND MAST INTRODUCED THE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ACT, which will protect the safety of pedestrians, motorists and residents along the Brightline/Virgin Trains USA high-speed rail corridor. This legislation will direct the FRA and the Federal Highway Administration to conduct a study on motorist and pedestrian safety along the corridor and share safety recommendations with Florida's Department of Transportation.

BRIGHTLINE BEGAN TALKS WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO BUILD FIVE TRAINS PLATFORMS BETWEEN MIAMI AND AVENTURA ALONGSIDE THEIR HIGH-SPEED PASSENGER RAIL TO ORLANDO. This proposed arrangement would give Miami-Dade a new rail service—a service described like Tri-Rail—with stops at Wynwood, the Design District, El Portal, North Miami and the Biscayne Bay campus of Florida International University.

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THE RIGHT-OF-WAY LEASE THAT BRIGHTLINE/VIRGIN TRAINS USA NEEDS TO CONNECT ORLANDO WITH TAMPA IS ON HOLD. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has extended the negotiation deadline for this lease due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FDOT and Brightline have extended the negotiation deadlines regarding this lease five times before.

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A WOMAN WAS KILLED AFTER THEIR CAR WAS STRUCK BY A BRIGHTLINE TRAIN TUESDAY MORNING, reports NBC Miami. The Broward Sheriff's Office pronounced her dead at the scene.

This is the 44 death after being struck by a Brightline since the its initial test runs in 2017.

Read more here.