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(Source: ProPublica, April 26, 2023) The blocked crossing problem is perennial, especially in cities that are near large train yards. But in the era of precision scheduled railroading, a management philosophy that leans heavily on running longer trains, residents, first responders, rail workers and government leaders told ProPublica it is getting worse as trains stretch…

(Source: Cap Times, April 27, 2023) The country’s largest labor union is calling for stronger safety protections for workers after a new report found more than 5,000 people died on the job in 2021, including 105 in Wisconsin. The AFL-CIO details the findings in the latest installment of its annual report evaluating health and safety conditions for…

(Source: Reuters, April 26, 2023) The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on Wednesday said a Republican budget cut proposal would result in nearly 7,500 fewer rail safety inspection days and over 30,000 fewer miles of track inspected annually, at a time when lawmakers are calling for more inspections in the wake of the Norfolk Southern…

(Source: Editorial in the Columbus Dispatch, April 23, 2023) The nation’s attention has waned, but the needs of the people impacted by the derailment persists. So has the call to strengthen regulations to prevent other tragedies as trains get bigger and longer and the size of the crews on board manning them diminish. Norfolk Southern…

(Source: Trains Magazine, April 24, 2023) The publicly traded U.S. Class I railroads are putting more of an emphasis on service and volume growth in the annual incentive plans they offer to their executives. It’s a clear sign, analysts say, that the railroads are shifting into growth mode after years spent concentrating on reducing their…