By Trevor Hughes usatoday.com For decades, railroads have been able to both cut costs and improve safety.But union railroad workers – and federal statistics – suggest we may have reached a tipping point. Some train accident rates have risen nearly 25% in the past decade, and union workers say further cuts to staffing imperil the nation’s safety in the wake […]
Railroad workers point to corporate greed as the root cause of the recent influx of dangerous train derailments by Alexandra Martinez for prismreports.org Over a dozen trains have derailed across the U.S. in fewer than three months. On Feb. 3, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, causing multiple explosions, toxic chemical leaks, and controlled burns that […]
BY PRESS ASSOCIATES Using safety of workers and communities as their main argument, two top railroad unions and the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department strongly argued for mandatory two-person crews on all freight trains. TTD and unions carried their campaign to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hearing on crews on Dec. 14, a day after rail workers’ […]
Ohio congressman says legislation would streamline training process Article published by trains.com An Ohio congressman has introduced a bill which would allow trainees for railroad jobs to complete some aspects of their training online. U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Zanesville, Ohio) introduced the Rail Employee Training Modernization Act last week, saying that existing regulations require employees […]
By The Associated Press OMAHA, Neb. — How many people does it take to operate a locomotive? For the railroad industry, the answer is simple: One. The industry is hoping this year’s scheduled completion of an automatic railroad braking system will bolster its argument to reduce the number of crew members in most trains from […]
By Patrick Springer Forum News Service for aberdeennews.com FARGO, N.D. — A union claims that a test of automated track inspection techniques on BNSF Railway ultimately will mean fewer visual checks of lines in North Dakota and Minnesota, setting up “a game of Russian roulette with the general public’s safety.” The automated testing initiative involves […]
Story by Tom Dempsy for kshb.com KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Three weeks after Union Pacific announced plans to transfer operations away from Neff Yard, several employees who were laid off reached out to 41 Action News to voice concerns about safety with the company’s trains. At least 200 workers were laid off when Union Pacific […]
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently announced it has more than $244 million in grant funding available through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program. Funding is for projects that increase rail reliability, efficiency, or transportation safety. Passenger and freight projects are eligible that improve intercity passenger rail capital assets, […]
Union Pacific is asking Hermiston employees to do more with less after recent layoffs, and some have expressed concern about safety. The railroad company declined to release specific numbers relating to its workforce reduction at the Hinkle rail yard near Hermiston. But two current employees who spoke to the East Oregonian off the record, due […]
WASHINGTON, DC — Amtrak is failing to spot and stop drug and alcohol use among its employees who are trusted to keep passengers safe, according to newly released documents obtained by the Hearst Television National Investigative Unit. In a 33-page report issued Thursday, Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General found: Passenger railroads struggle to implement ‘lifesaving’ […]