ALAN SUDERMAN
Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — U.S. Sen Mark Warner says oil producers and rail companies need to step up their safety efforts in the wake of the April 30 train derailment in downtown Lynchburg.

Warner hosted a hearing Monday in Richmond to discuss ways of improving crude oil transportation.

Several local and emergency officials at the meeting expressed concerns about their capacity to contain another derailment.

Federal investigators are still trying to determine what caused the 17-car derailment of a CSX train carrying Bakken crude from North Dakota in Lynchburg.

Three of the cars plunged into the James River and one caught fire, briefly causing parts of downtown to be evacuated.

A CSX spokesman said at the hearing that safety was his company’s top priority.

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