Greenbrier responds to U.S. DOT proposed rule on safety of moving flammable liquids by rail

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The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (GBX)

Jul 23, 2014, 03:19 ET

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore., July 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (NYSE:GBX) today responded to the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) proposed rulemaking on the safe movement of flammable liquids by rail, including crude oil and ethanol. While Greenbrier is examining the details of the proposed rulemaking and will provide full comments at a later date, Jack Isselmann, Vice President External Affairs and Communications today made the following statement:

"Greenbrier is pleased that Secretary Foxx recognizes the urgency of completing this rulemaking and we commend his stated intention to issue a rule in the next 60 days. A final rule will provide the clarity the industry needs to make investments that ensure that crude oil and other flammable commodities are classified properly and transported in tank cars that are safer at any speed.

We are also gratified that two of the three alternate new design standards proposed by the Department call for a 9/16-inch thick steel shell, a safety feature that Greenbrier has consistently championed with our next generation 'Tank Car of the Future' design. This design can better withstand the additional demands associated with operating unit trains like the high-hazard flammable trains identified today by the Department.

A two-year timetable for phasing out the use of older DOT-111 cars in the most hazardous flammable service is aggressive, but can be achieved through a combination of increased new tank car production and appropriate retrofit packages for tank cars that meet a more robust safety standard. Greenbrier is prepared to meet the need for tank car retrofits with our newly-launched joint venture for railcar repair and retrofitting, GBW Railcar Services.

We look forward to continuing to share our views with the Department during the comment period to ensure that the final rule meaningfully enhances public safety while protecting the competitiveness of America's rail network and the many jobs that depend on it."

About Greenbrier

Greenbrier, (www.gbrx.com), headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon, is a leading supplier of transportation equipment and services to the railroad industry. We build new railroad freight cars in our 4 manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Mexico and marine barges at our U.S. manufacturing facility. Greenbrier also sells reconditioned wheel sets and provides wheel services at 9 locations throughout the U.S. We recondition, manufacture and sell railcar parts at 4 U.S. sites. Greenbrier is a 50/50 joint venture partner with Watco Companies, LLC in GBW Railcar Services, LLC which repairs and refurbishes freight cars at 38 locations across North America, including 14 tank car repair and maintenance facilities certified by the Association of American Railroads. Greenbrier builds new railroad freight cars and refurbishes freight cars for the European market through our operations in Poland. Greenbrier owns approximately 8,300 railcars, and performs management services for approximately 235,000 railcars.

SOURCE The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (GBX)