Listen Live
Donate
 on air
Schedule

KCRW

Read & Explore

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Culture
  • Events

Listen

  • Live Radio
  • Music
  • Podcasts
  • Full Schedule

Information

  • About
  • Careers
  • Help / FAQ
  • Newsletters
  • Contact

Support

  • Become a Member
  • Become a VIP
  • Ways to Give
  • Shop
  • Member Perks

Become a Member

Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

DonateGive Monthly

Copyright 2025 KCRW. All rights reserved.

Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
Cookie Policy
|FCC Public Files

Back to To the Point

To the Point

The Crude Business of Moving Oil in America

US oil production and energy independence have reached a 28-year high, thanks mainly to fracking in North Dakota. But with no pipelines to move the oil, barrels of crude are now traveling the US on trains – an estimated million barrels a day. Last July, a train carrying barrels of explosive crude oil derailed in Canada.

  • rss
  • Share
KCRW placeholderBy Sara Terry • Jun 13, 2014 • 1 min read

US oil production and energy independence have reached a 28-year high, thanks mainly to fracking in North Dakota. But with no pipelines to move the oil, barrels of crude are now traveling the US on trains – an estimated million barrels a day. Last July, a train carrying barrels of explosive crude oil derailed in Canada. The fiery blast killed 47 people and leveled part of the town. Accidents like this have prompted an outcry over what critics call "bomb trains" and a debate on whether safety regulations are strict enough. We look at the safety issues involved with what critics call "bomb trains."

  • KCRW placeholder

    Sara Terry

    The Aftermath Project

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Jenny Hamel

    KCRW

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Benjamin Gottlieb

    Reporter, Fill-in Host

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Evan George

    Director of Content, News

  • KCRW placeholder

    Russell Gold

    energy reporter for the Wall Street Journal

  • KCRW placeholder

    Matt Landon

    Vancouver Action Network

  • KCRW placeholder

    Charlie Drevna

    American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers

    NewsNationalPolitics
Back to To the Point