(REESEVILLE) A second train derailment in Dodge County in as many years has drawn urgent calls for action from a Wisconsin senator. Tammy Baldwin is demanding Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) take stronger steps to ensure rail safety in Wisconsin.
The most recent derailment occurred on August 15th, when 24 railcars from a CPKC freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed near Reeseville. Two of the cars were mechanically breached, releasing crude oil into the surrounding area.
This incident comes just two years after another CPKC train derailed 29 cars in the same location in 2023. A federal investigation at the time blamed a track alignment issue.
In a letter to CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel, Baldwin called the safety record “unacceptable” and pressed the company to complete a full assessment of track conditions, conduct necessary maintenance, and make infrastructure upgrades to prevent future derailments.
“This is the second derailment in this location in as many years, which is an unacceptable safety record for the Reeseville community,” Baldwin wrote. “It is imperative that CPKC work to prevent future derailments and potential risk to communities in Wisconsin, workers, and the movement of goods that Americans rely on.”
Baldwin also requested a detailed summary from CPKC outlining what steps the company has taken since the August derailment, as well as any investments or operational changes made after the 2023 incident.
