"U.S. regulators this autumn may impose new standards for rail tank cars that carry crude oil that are tougher than the latest design adopted by railroads in 2011, a top industry safety executive said on Tuesday.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has been under pressure to overhaul safety rules as it tries to respond to a recent series of fiery crude train crashes in North America and a surge in rail traffic carrying crude from shale fields to refineries.

A year ago, for instance, a runaway tanker train carrying crude smashed into the small town of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, killing 47 people."

Terry Wade reports for Reuters June 24, 2014. [2]