General Information
BNSF, UP operations mostly back to normal in Nebraska after flooding
(Source: Lincoln Journal Star, April 9, 2019) LINCOLN, Neb. — Both BNSF Railway and Union Pacific have reopened all their tracks in Nebraska and the surrounding area with the exception of lines that go from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Kansas City. Full story: Lincoln Journal Star Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Read MoreRail unions, railroads at odds over crew size mandate
(Source: Washington Examiner, April 5, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, has revived an effort to mandate crew size on freight trains, an issue that divides railroads and rail unions. Rail unions have backed the controversial measure, known as the Safe Freight Act, which would require freight trains to be operated by more…
Read MorePrecision Scheduled Railroading: Short Term Gains at What Cost?
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President (BLET Editor’s Note: The following message from BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce has been excerpted from the February/March 2019 issue of the Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen News.) INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, April 8 — Much is being made in the railroad industry and other transportation media about the Precision Scheduled…
Read MoreSMART TD’s Whitaker succeeds Wier as VP
(Source: Progressive Railroading 04/08/2019) The SMART Transportation Division has announced that John Whitaker has been named vice president to succeed David Wier, who retired April 1. Most recently, Whitaker served as an alternative vice president for SMART TD, according to a press released issued by the union. He began his railroad career in 1997 when he joined…
Read MoreSTB to review petition to amend rail performance reporting rules
(Source: Progressive Railroading 04/08/2019) The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has opened a rule-making proceeding in response to a petition from the American Chemistry Council to amend the board’s railroad performance data reporting rules. In a filing last week, the STB stated that by opening the proceeding, it is not ruling on the petition’s merits but is seeking more information about several…
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