Archive for March 3, 2023

(Source: Railway Age, March 1, 2023) U.S rail traffic in February 2023 lagged the same month last year—down 5.2% or 101,452 carloads and intermodal units, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported March 1. This follows January’s 3.2% drop from the prior-year period; while carloads rose slightly during the first month of the year, intermodal experienced its worst…

(Source: Politico, March 2, 2023) President Joe Biden on Thursday praised bipartisan legislation that would strengthen safety rules governing railroads, following the fiery Ohio train derailment that left residents concerned about the air and water quality in the town of East Palestine. Full story: Politico

(Source: Reuters, March 2, 2023) Seven major North American freight rail companies on Thursday agreed to join a voluntary employee safety reporting program after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg had urged the action following a Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio of a Norfolk Southern operated train. The “Confidential Close Call Reporting System” encourages employees to…

(Source: The Guardian, March 3, 2023) In leaked audio heard by the Guardian, a manager for one of the US’s largest rail companies can be heard explaining to a former carman that they should stop tagging railcars for broken bearings. The manager says doing so delays other cargo. In late 2016, Stephanie Griffin, a former…