Baldwin Calls on CPKC Rail Company to Do More to Prevent Future Accidents After Two Derailments in Dodge County

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called on the CEO of railway company Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) to make the needed improvements to prevent future train derailments and protect Wisconsin communities and workers. Baldwin’s call comes after a CPKC train carrying crude oil derailed in Dodge County, Wisconsin in August, marking the second derailment in the area in just two years.

“This is the second derailment in this location in as many years, which is an unacceptable safety record for the Reeseville community and raises serious questions about the reliability of this stretch of CPKC’s rail infrastructure. I urge you to take immediate action to identify and correct the cause of this most recent derailment, including by completing an assessment of track conditions, completing any necessary maintenance, and making any infrastructure upgrades needed to ensure the long-term safety of this track,” wrote Baldwin in a letter to Keith Creel, President and CEO of Canadian Pacific Kansas City. “It is imperative that CPKC work to prevent future derailments and potential risk to communities in Wisconsin, workers, and the movement of goods that Americans rely on.”

Senator Baldwin has long supported rail safety legislation, including introducing the Railway Safety Act and the Crude-By-Rail Safety Act. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Baldwin consistently advocates for strong funding to improve freight and passenger rail safety and reliability, including the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program.

Full text of the letter is available here and below.

Dear Mr. Creel,

I write to you following the derailment of a Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) train in Dodge County, Wisconsin in August. This is the second derailment in this location in as many years, which is an unacceptable safety record for the Reeseville community and raises serious questions about the reliability of this stretch of CPKC’s rail infrastructure. I urge you to take immediate action to identify and correct the cause of this most recent derailment, including by completing an assessment of track conditions, completing any necessary maintenance, and making any infrastructure upgrades needed to ensure the long-term safety of this track.

On August 15, 2025, a CPKC freight train derailed 24 railcars that were carrying hazardous materials near Reeseville. Two of the 24 railcars derailed were mechanically breached and released crude oil. In 2023, a CPKC train derailed, with 29 railcars coming off the tracks in the same location. The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) rail incident report following the 2023 derailment attributed the cause to a track alignment issue.

Furthermore, I ask that you provide my office with a summary of the actions CPKC has taken following the August derailment, as well as a description of any and all investments or changes in operation the railroad made following the 2023 derailment. It is imperative that CPKC work to prevent future derailments and potential risk to communities in Wisconsin, workers, and the movement of goods that Americans rely on.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.