General Information
FRA declares emergency in response to coronavirus outbreak
(Source: Federal Railroad Administration press release, March 14, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pursuant to Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 211.45, Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Ronald L. Batory has determined that the imminent threat and exposure to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses a risk of serious illness that constitutes an “emergency…
Read MoreTwo-person crew bill awaits Governor’s signature in Washington State
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, March 17 — After more than seven years of hard word by the BLET’s Washington State Legislative Board and their counterparts within the SMART Transportation Division, a two-person crew bill has passed both chambers of the state legislature in Washington. The bill is currently on the desk of Governor Jay Inslee awaiting his…
Read MoreNeopanamax cranes arrive at Port of Savannah
(Source: Progressive Railroading 03/13/2020) The Port of Savannah received three neopanamax ship-to-shore cranes on Tuesday, bringing the port’s total to 36 — the most of any single terminal in North America, the Georgia Ports Authority announced yesterday. Designed by Konecranes of Finland, the new cranes will immediately undergo a commissioning process. The first new crane will enter…
Read MoreFor the first time in 15 years, grade crossing safety gains a hearing
(Source: Progressive Railroading 03/13/2020) By Julie Sneider, Senior Associate Editor For the first time in 15 years, the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials held a hearing to address grade crossing safety. Subcommittee Chairman Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) called the Feb. 5 hearing as part of the panel’s work on legislation to reauthorize the Fixing America’s Surface…
Read MoreAAR: Coronavirus impact reflected in intermodal traffic volume
(Source: Progressive Railroading 03/12/2020) U.S. freight railroads logged 462,303 carloads and intermodal units during the week ending March 7, down 9.1 percent compared with the same week in 2019, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data. Railroads moved 229,742 carloads during the week, down 3.5 percent, and 232,561 containers and trailers, down 14.1 percent. Although AAR…
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