February 3, 2024 | 2-man Crews, East Palestine-NS, Legislation, News, NS, Railroad Safety
In an ideal world, February 3, 2024, would serve as a day to reflect on the safety improvements the rail industry has made since Norfolk Southern’s derailment and massive chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio. But the sad reality is that the rail industry has learned...
January 25, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Legislation, News, Railroad Safety
From left: BLET Nebraska SLB Chairman Pat Pfeifer meets with FRA Administrator Amit Bose. Photo from the North Platte Bulletin ____________________ BLET Nebraska State Legislative Board Chairman Pat Pfeifer reports that a rail safety bill is currently making its way...
January 19, 2024 | 2-man Crews, FRA, News
Although exact wording hasn’t been made public, it’s been reported that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has submitted its final rule on train crew size to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. According to transportation industry...
January 18, 2024 | 2-man Crews, FRA, Headlines
(Source: Trains.com, January 16, 2023) The Federal Railroad Administration is seeking public comments on Genesee & Wyoming short lines’ request to test Parallel Systems autonomous, self-propelled battery-electric freight cars. Full story:...
January 4, 2024 | 2-man Crews, FRA, Headlines, Railroad Safety
(Source: Freight Waves, January 3, 2024) The Federal Railroad Administration has submitted its final rule on train crew staffing to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, with the final rule potentially being released in March, according to OMB’s...
January 4, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Contract Negotiations, Headlines, Railroad Safety, Shippers, STB
(Source: Freight Waves, January 4, 2024) Railroads, shippers and unions are tracking hot topics ranging from service improvement to government oversight to safety regulations in 2024. Two of the items are federal action on rail safety and labor contract negotiations....
December 14, 2023 | 2-man Crews, News
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a railroad safety bill into law this week, mandating that two-person train crews operate all hazardous materials trains throughout the state. New York joins Ohio and Kansas as the third state in 2023 to adopt train crew safety...
December 14, 2023 | 2-man Crews, Health & Welfare, News, Paid Sick Leave, PSR
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, HBO’s weekly late-night television program which takes a satirical look at news and current events, devoted all of its most recent broadcast to “freight trains.” Prior to the episode premiering on Sunday, December 10, BLET...
November 29, 2023 | 2-man Crews, Headlines, Legislation, Railroad Safety
(Source: New Jersey Monitor, November 28, 2023) New Jersey lawmakers are considering legislation intended to make “high hazard” freight trains safer by requiring two-person crews, capping train length, and mandating trackside technology to detect defects on passing...
October 13, 2023 | 2-man Crews, News
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly implemented an administrative rule on October 11, which mandates two-person train crews. Gov. Kelly told the Associated Press that two-person crews “will protect workers from the effects of fatigue, prevent train derailments, and reduce...
