Federal Railroad Administrator Will Visit Site Of Alma Train Derailment

A top federal regulator of railroads will tour the site of last weekend’s train derailment and fuel spill near La Crosse on Thursday.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said her office and the office of Federal Railroad Administration head Sarah Feinberg, have been in touch since last weekend’s two freight derailments and spills at Alma and Watertown. Baldwin said Feinberg has agreed to visit Alma Thursday afternoon.

The senator said she wants the administrator to hear community concerns about fuel trains.

“She I think understands that intellectually, but I think she needs to understand this is a constant fear on a daily basis as these hazardous materials are coming through our communities,” she said.

Baldwin said she’s also trying to get the two rail companies involved in the derailments to embrace safety measures she’s promoting.

The senator said she plans to visit the site of the Watertown spill on Friday.