BLET News
1 killed after chartered Amtrak train carrying Republican lawmakers hits trash truck
(Source: CBS News, January 31, 2018) CROZET, Va. — A chartered Amtrak train carrying Republican members of Congress to a retreat hit a garbage truck on the tracks west of Washington just before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, leaving one person killed. The lawmakers were traveling with their families en route to a luxury resort in West…
Read MoreTSA expected to issue final rule for security training for transit, freight and bus employees
(Source: Lexology, January 31, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — It has been 14 years since the 9/11 Commission Report was issued, in which many recommendations were made to improve security in the U.S. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has still not yet implemented three of these recommendations, although it has been reported that the TSA will…
Read MoreHeitkamp introduces two-person crew bill in U.S. Senate
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, February 1 — On January 30, 2018, Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) introduced S. 2360, a bill that would mandate a minimum crew size for freight trains in the United States. The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. It has immediately garnered four Senate co-sponsors: Senator…
Read MoreCanadian oil exports by rail increasing
(Source: UPI, January 30, 2018) With Canadian crude oil production up slightly, and given infrastructure limitations, federal data show oil exports by rail at a historic high. Data from Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) show the November 2017 average for exports by rail was the highest since November 2014. Full story: www.upi.com Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Read MoreQ&A: RRB reports performance under Customer Service Plan
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, January 17, 2018) CHICAGO — The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board’s Customer Service Plan promotes the principles and objectives of customer-driven quality service agency-wide. The RRB’s plan lays out the standards and expresses the time frames in terms of when the agency is required to make its decision to pay or…
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