Longer and longer trains in the US are blocking patients from reaching
hospitals and blocking ambulances from reaching patients.
It has been reported 1400 times this year. Sometimes the results
are fatal.
In important areas of big cities you can usually find a bridge over
the tracks, though apparently not always. In less important areas
there are often only level crossings.
This is part of the general tendency of US railroads to trample
their employees and the public to increase profits.
Saving fuel is a good thing, but railroads should be required to (1)
make sure never to stop trains where they would block roads except in
an emergency and (2) over the next five years, build bridges or
tunnels or alternative routes so that access is not blocked anywhere.