Kind Calls For Investigation Into Idle Trains Blocking Railroad Crossings

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind is calling for a federal investigation into railroads blocking crossings in towns throughout Wisconsin — something that he says isn’t just an inconvenience, but a public safety issue.

Because of Wisconsin’s increase in railroad traffic over the last few years, some trains have been left parked on the tracks while they wait for lines to clear, causing blocked intersections in some small communities.

According to Kind, that can sometimes completely cut off parts of town for hours at a time.

“I was starting to hear stories of children having to climb under trains in order to get to school in the morning because their roads were blocked by trains parked there for 12 to 24 hours,” said Kind.

Kind said idle trains can also block emergency services, a situation which he called “unacceptable.”

He said he hopes an investigation by the Government Accountability Office will put pressure on railroad companies to prevent blocked intersections.