The kind of oil tanker cars that resulted in a fiery crash and killed 47 people in Quebec, Canada three years ago are being banned by the Canadian government.
As of Nov. 1, the older tankers called DOT-111 cars will not be allowed to transport oil in the country, according to Marc Garneau, Canada’s transport minister. He said another version of the same tanker, but one with another layer of metal to reinforce the tanker will be removed from service as well.
It was July 6, 2013 when a runaway freight train pulling 72 crude-oil DOT-111s derailed and exploded in downtown Lac Megantic in Quebe. Garneau’s declaration will affect any tankers coming from the U.S. He says they will not be allowed into Canada.
The deadly explosion leveled the downtown of the small town and resulted in calls for safer rail cars in the U.S. as well. Officials in numerous states where oil tankers travel, including Oklahoma reviewed their regulations.