Archive for March 1, 2023

(Source: Trains Magazine, February 28, 2023) The Federal Railroad Administration today encouraged railroads to improve the way they collect and use data from wayside hotbox detectors in order to prevent catastrophic derailments like the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern hazardous materials wreck in East Palestine, Ohio. Full story: Trains Magazine

(Source: USA Today, February 27, 2023) The train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, has left the small community devastated, and questions about the environmental and public health consequences remain unanswered. It also spurred calls for action to hold the freight rail industry accountable and prevent such a disaster from happening again.  The incident raises concerns about the safety of trains amid changes in how rail…

(Source: U.S. Department of Transportation press release, February 21, 2023) Among the immediate calls for action: Freight rail industry should accelerate phase-in of safer tank cars and provide workers paid sick leave, and Congress can raise existing caps on the fines for rail safety regulations USDOT will advance train crew staffing rule, initiate a focused safety inspection…

(Source: Politico, March 1, 2023) President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday that he would nominate Julie Su to be his next Labor secretary, moving swiftly to fill a coming vacancy within his cabinet. Full story: Politico

(Source: CNN, February 27, 2023) Union Pacific shares jumped 10% in premarket trading Monday after the railroad company announced CEO Lance Fritz, 60, will leave the company by year-end, following a call by an activist hedge fund for his ouster. Union Pacific just reported a record profit for the second straight year. But the hedge fund, Soroban…