BLET News

(Source: CNN, March 4, 2023) The nation’s major freight railroads have long desired to have only one crew member, a lone engineer, in the cab of their locomotives. And that desire hasn’t changed despite the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train on February 3 that released toxic chemicals into the air, water and soil of East Palestine,…

(Source: ABC News, March 5, 2023) No hazardous materials were involved after a Norfolk Southern train derailed Saturday near Springfield, Ohio, officials said, the second such incident in just over a month. A Norfolk Southern representative said that 28 train cars of 212 overall derailed, including four empty tanker cars. Full story: ABC News

(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…