Marijuana shipment disguised as spare tires in new cars enter U.S. via rail
(Source: Reuters, July 17, 2017) NEW YORK — About $1 million worth of smuggled marijuana was discovered last week in the spare tire compartments of newly assembled Ford Fusion sedans imported into the United States from Mexico, U.S. officials said on Monday. In all, 15 Mexican-made Ford cars, each packed with marijuana instead of a…
Read More2018 National Division Officers Election Rules now available
INDEPENDENCE, July 17 — On May 3, the BLET Advisory Board adopted Rules for the 2018 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen National Division Officers Election. These rules provide detailed guidelines for compliance with Section 48 of the National Division Rules of the BLET Bylaws, which governs the election of National Division Officers. Specifically, the…
Read MoreASLRRA: 45G tax credit achieves majority support in Congress
(source: Progressive Railroading 07/17/2017) Legislation aimed at making the 45G tax credit permanent has reached majority support in the U.S. House and Senate, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) announced today. The Building Rail Access for Customers and the Economy (BRACE) Act has achieved 226 co-sponsors in the House (H.R. 721) and 51 co-sponsors…
Read More“We got lucky:” Four years after Lac-Megantic, another oil train accident
(Source: DeSmog Blog, July 13, 2017) NEW YORK — “We were very lucky in this instance,” Plainfield Fire Chief David Riddle said. “There was no fire, nobody got hurt by the grace of God.” As the residents of Lac-Megantic were preparing to acknowledge the 4th anniversary of the oil train disaster that leveled and poisoned…
Read MoreShort lines, tall orders
(Source: Lewiston Tribune, July 16, 2017) LEWISTON, Idaho — One of the biggest questions in the debate about removing the four lower Snake River dams is whether rail could haul the grain that’s now barged to Portland and transferred onto ocean-going vessels headed to the Pacific Rim. Full story: Lewiston Tribune Monday, July 17, 2017
Read MoreEighth Circuit Court rules in favor of railroads regarding Amtrak’s on time performance
(Source: Railway Age, July 14, 2017) NEW YORK — In a major victory for freight railroads, a Surface Transportation Board (STB) attempt to revive what previously was ruled an unconstitutional regulatory scheme has been blocked by the federal Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Full story: Railway Age Monday, July 17, 2017
Read MoreWhy Millennials Should Lead the Next Labor Movement
(Source: New York Times opinion column by Kashana Cauley, July 13, 2017) I grew up in a household that neatly displayed its affiliations in the bathroom magazine rack. There were copies of Ebony, Essence and Jet that my dad brought home from work so that we could be in touch with our blackness in magazine…
Read MoreU.S. lawmakers fight White House transportation budget cut plan
(Source: Reuters, July 13, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The White House plan to cut transportation spending, privatize air traffic control and scrap long-distance train service is facing strong resistance in Congress. In May, the Trump administration proposed cutting discretionary U.S. Transportation Department spending by 12.7 percent, or $2.4 billion to $16.2 billion. Full story: Reuters Friday,…
Read MoreBatory picked for FRA chief
(Source: Railway Age, July 11, 2017) NEW YORK — The White House on July 10 announced that President Donald Trump intends to nominate Ronald L. Batory, who recently retired as President and Chief Operating Officer of Conrail, as the next Federal Railroad Administrator. Full story: Railway Age Tuesday, July 11, 2017
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