Rail versus pipeline is the wrong question

. . . the recent spate of rail accidents and pipeline leaks and spills doesn't provide arguments for one or the other; instead, it indicates that rapidly increasing oil and gas development and shipping ever greater amounts, by any method, will mean more accidents, spills, environmental damage — even death. The answer is to step back from this reckless plunder and consider ways to reduce our fossil fuel use.

And see this related article: The false safety promise of Keystone XL, by Lindsay Abrams, Salon.com, Jan 8, 2014.