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Daily Headlines
Texas bullet train company responds to naysayer
(Source: Dallas Morning News, April 4, 2014) DALLAS, Texas -- Let’s have a little back and forth on the economics of high-speed rail in Texas. Full story: Dallas Morning News
Texas high-speed rail is hot topic at economic forum
(Source: Houston Chronicle, April 8, 2014) HOUSTON, Texas -- The concept of a high-speed rail system between Dallas and Houston and regional mobility needs were among the key topics of discussion at the 2014 Economic Outlook Forum, held March 28 at the Lone Star...
Rising death toll spurs rail safety campaign in Fresno
(Source: Fresno Bee, April 9, 2014) FRESNO, Calif. -- Six people died in collisions between trains and vehicles last year in Fresno County -- more than the prior three years combined. Two more people died as they trespassed on railroad rights-of-way and were hit by...
Part of the job: How engineers deal with death on the railroad
(Source: Popular Mechanics, April 9, 2014. John P. Tolman is the BLET's Vice President & National Legislative Representative.) NEW YORK -- In the aftermath of a train accident, news reports understandably focus on the civilian victims. But a major train accident such...
Maine fire chief describes Lac-Megantic experience to Congress
(Source: Bangor Daily News, April 10, 2014) WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Nothing in 33 years of firefighting prepared Tim Pellerin for the inferno before him. The fire chief from Rangeley, Maine, had just arrived in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, last year in the early morning hours of...
Communities not prepared for risks of crude oil train derailments, Congress told
(Source: McClatchy News Service, April 10, 2014) WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Emergency response officials told a Senate subcommittee Wednesday that big cities and small towns alike are unprepared for a disaster on the scale of an oil train derailment and fire last year in...
Two-person crews on oil trains to be required in U.S.
(Source: Bloomberg News, April 9, 2014) WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. regulators, acting after a oil-train derailment last year ignited a fireball that killed 47 people in Canada, said they intend to require at least two crew members for crude shipments, a proposal opposed...
FRA aims to advance rulemakings on train crew size, load securement
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 10, 2014) The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) yesterday announced plans to issue a proposed rule that would require two-person crews on crude oil trains and establish minimum crew-size standards for most mainline freight-...
Benefits under Railroad Retirement and Social Security
(Source: U.S. Railroad Retirement Board press release, March 5, 2014) CHICAGO -- Employers and employees covered by the Railroad Retirement Act pay higher retirement taxes than those covered by the Social Security Act, so that railroad retirement benefits remain...
FBI file sheds more light on disgraced ex-Metra CEO
(Source: Chicago Tribune, April 2, 2014) CHICAGO -- The FBI conducted a 22-month investigation of former Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano, concluding that he did not embezzle any money other than the $475,000 he was accused of taking from Metra, newly released...
