General Information
FRA report: All railroads met statutory PTC requirements by 2018’s end
(Source: Progressive Railroading 02/19/2019) The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) late last week released a status update regarding railroads’ self-reported progress toward implementing positive train control (PTC) by 2018’s end. All 41 railroads either met the end-of-2018 statutory deadline for full implementation or submitted requests for an extension up to two additional years by demonstrating they…
Read MoreTrump administration to cancel California’s high-speed rail funds
(Source: Progressive Railroading 02/20/2019) President Trump’s administration intends to cancel $929 million in federal grant funds yet to be paid for California’s high-speed rail project, and also will explore legal options to seek the return of $2.5 billion previously paid for the project. Federal Railroad Administrator Ronald Batory yesterday notified California High Speed Rail Authority…
Read MoreUP employees step up to help laid off employee battling breast cancer
(Source: Television station KETV, February 19, 2019) OMAHA, Neb. — JoAnna Draper doesn’t have a job; she lost it last Tuesday along with 149 other Omaha Union Pacific employees. KETV NewsWatch 7 shared Draper’s story last week following the latest round of layoffs. The single mom and former UP fitness for duty nurse is also…
Read MoreNTSB recommends new safety measures following tank car chlorine incident
(Source: Progressive Railroading 02/15/2019) The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) yesterday issued five safety recommendations following its investigation of an August 2016 chlorine release from a ruptured tank car near New Martinsville, West Virginia. Eight people were injured in connection with the accident, in which 178,000 pounds of liquefied compressed chlorine was released over two-and-a-half hours after a…
Read MoreAAR calls for higher gas tax, weight-distance fee to shore up trust fund
(Source: Progressive Railroading 02/15/2019) The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is calling on Congress to implement a federal gas tax increase and a user-based fee system in an effort to ensure the Highway Trust Fund’s financial viability. The recommendations are part of the association’s national infrastructure priorities this year, which AAR President and Chief Executive Officer Ian…
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