A Union Pacific official said Thursday the speeds allowed in communities vary with the terrain, condition of the tracks and other variables. The speeds are federally regulated, he added. The speed limit for trains passing through Ranger, he said, is 60 mph. In Baird, trains slow to 40 mph. Chrane said trains apparently pass through Abilene around 30 miles per hour.
Local officials are also concerned about the increased traffic following recent railroad mergers.
Now I hear we may start getting 30. That means that a disaster of some kind is five or six times as likely to happen. Huffman conceded, however, that the rail lines had been greatly improved in recent months to handle the increased traffic. Sheriff Patrick Toombs of Mitchell County agreed. They've torn up a lot of track and replaced it.