"NTSB warns of 'major loss of life' without tougher regs on trains carrying crude" (BRK; ARII; TRN; GBX)

Berkshire Hathaway's Burlington Northern is the largest U.S. hauler of oil, the other symbols are tanker car manufacturers)
From The Hill:

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is warning a "major loss of life" is likely unless tougher regulations on oil-by-rail shipment are introduced.

The agency's warning follows a spate of high-profile derailments of trains that were carrying crude oil, most recently in North Dakota and Quebec.

The NTSB said Thursday it was "concerned" a "major loss of life, property damage and environmental consequences" could occur, if large volumes of crude or other flammable liquids are involved in an rail accident.

"The large-scale shipment of crude oil by rail simply didn't exist ten years ago, and our safety regulations need to catch up with this new reality," said NTSB Chairwoman Deborah Hersman said in a statement. "While this energy boom is good for business, the people and the environment along rail corridors must be protected from harm."

Supporters of the Keystone XL oil pipeline have said that the amount of oil that is being shipped by trains would decrease if the controversial pipeline is approved by the Obama administration....MORE

For some backround see November's "Uh Oh: "Oil tank-car makers may have overestimated demand." (ARII; TRN; GBX)".
Over the last year all the manufacturers have outperformed the S&P: