The explosion that killed 47 was caused by failure to set a brake on a slope, and not to guard a potentially dangerous cargo that even terrorists could have exploited. As for pipeline, an Enbridge pipe line carrying tar stands oil burst in 2010, was not discovered for a day, and they have already spent over a $billion trying to clean up the tributary of the Kalamazoo River where it spilled. Also Qingdao China had a pipeline explosion last year which killed over 60 people. Suggest you Google those names for details. We do need stronger tank cars to carry dangerous hydrogen sulfide containing oils from North Dakota, and stronger, well maintained pipelines carrying the highly corrosive, abrasive, toxic tar sands oil (dilbit) to prevent destructive expensive spills.
I know accidents happen. I also know that pipelines are safer than rail, and that I do not want to shutdown US production to buy Saudi oil because it is “safer.” THAT was the goal of the yahoo stories, and that is what I was responding to.