Anyone who has traveled Interstate 80 through Wyoming as many times as I have is very aware of the many coal trains (over 100 cars each), filled to rounding on top, and nary a bit of dust in the area. The tracks parallel the highway for miles. We were always told that the top coal in each car was sprayed with something that greatly controls the dust.
Whatever the concerns with coal are, any danger from its transport on trains is surely a non-issue.
Lena T. Jones
Vancouver