Did ‘bomb trains’ operate in city during Pope visit? Officials: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The greatest public safety threat posed to pilgrims and residents during Pope Francis’ recent visit wasn’t from bananas at densely-packed security checkpoints or, um, the faithful (restrained by National Guard), but so-called ‘Bomb Trains.’ From an August 20th State Impact story:
At a news conference to update the public on the city’s preparations for the influx of a predicted 1.5 million people, [Mayor] Nutter said officials have been working with the railroads on the issue of oil trains.
“We are working with the railroads, we are sensitive to the issue,” Nutter said after being asked whether officials had considered halting the trains during the massive event, when Philadelphia will be attracting global attention.
Office of Emergency Management head Samantha Phillips declined to comment at all for NPR’s story.
Delaware Riverkeeper’s deputy director, Tracy Carluccio, opined to State Impact that shutting down oil shipments during the papal visit would damage CSX’s already bruised reputation, seeing as the rail cars have caused quite an uproar from residents and environmental advocacy groups.
“It would be a recognition of the hard facts that there have been a tremendous number of accidents,” she said.
Fast forward to this week:
Apparently the Office of Emergency Management nor Mayor’s office know how rail security was handled (read: didn’t want to touch it with ten foot pole) . OEM’s Samantha Phillips did not respond to my request for comment. Nutter’s spokesman, Mark MacDonald, kicked the can down the road in a short emailed message:
You should contact the U.S. Secret Service and its technical security division for the oil train issue.
I haven’t heard back from the Secret Service.
Philadelphia-based journalist Jeff Deeney chimed in on Monday, at least confirming that these trains were in the area during Pope Francis’ open-air Parkway Mass:
That may be all we ever know, my fellow Philadelphians. If I hear back from the feds, I’ll update you.
