I'm not opposed to shipping oil or any other hazardous material by rail and I work in a building next to the train tracks in the Eastbay.

They people opposed to shipping those products have legitimate concerns. The fact that several trains have derailed and caused major damage proves it. Making fun of environmentalists and the media is counter productive.

It's in the best financial interest of the railroads to stop resisting and voluntarily slow the trains down and use newer safer cars to transport the oil.
It will be more expensive in the begining but a good investment in the long run.

If there are more accidents the government will have more public support to impose more stringent regulations.

The railroads also need to be more upfront with local authorities in letting them know when these trains will be passing thru or arriving.

They've claimed they don't want to give out the information because of concerns that terrorists willl target the trains but people know what they look like and can probably figure out when they are here.