Friday, September 22, 2017 - The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has submitted Fleet Composition of Rail Tank Cars That Transport Flammable Liquids:2013–2016, its first report to Congress measuring the industry-wide progress in manufacturing and modifying safer rail tank cars that transport flammable liquids. The report, required under the 2015 FAST Act (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act), describes the progress of tank car safety upgrades from 2013 through 2016, by tank car type and type of flammable liquid. Class 3 flammable liquids most commonly include crude oil, ethanol, and refined petroleum products. BTS found that as of the end of 2016, nine percent (7,181) of the tank cars used to carry Class 3 flammable liquids met the new safety requirements, a dramatic increase from the two percent in 2015. Of the tank cars meeting the new safety requirements, 70 percent are new and 30 percent have been ret­rofitted. Media contact: Dave Smallen, (202) 366-5568, david.smallen@dot.gov.