New Jersey Judge Orders Safety Plan for Rail Cars with Propane

A state judge has ordered a railroad company to implement new safety rules for rail cars filled with butane and propane stored on Morris County-owned tracks.

A Superior Court judge’s rule included ordering the Morristown & Erie Railway to work with county and local officials to develop an evacuation plan, inspect the tracks at least three times a week, and only move the cars during the day.

There are 18 butane and propane filled rail cars at the storage yard in Mount Olive, but more are expected.

Morris County officials had filed legal papers last month to prevent the railroad from storing the cars on the tracks.

A Federal Railroad Administration inspection found that Morristown & Erie was in compliance with federal safety standards.