Quebec rail disaster shines critical light on oil-by-rail boom

The deadly train derailment in Quebec this weekend is set to bring intense scrutiny to the dramatic growth in North America of shipping crude oil by rail, a century-old practice unexpectedly revived by the surge in shale oil production.

At least five people were killed, and another 40 are missing, after a train carrying 73 tank cars of North Dakota crude rolled driverless down a hill into the heart of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, where it derailed and exploded, leveling the town centre.

via Business feed http://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/1277827/quebec-rail-disaster-shines-critical-light-oil-rail-boom