August 1, 2023 | Amtrak, BNSF, Headlines, Legislation
(Source: Television station WDAF, July 31, 2023) Gov. Mike Parson and the Missouri Department of Transportation are set to announce a new Missouri Railroad Safety Crossing plan this week. On Thursday, the governor plans to sign House Bill 4, which includes $50 million...
July 18, 2023 | East Palestine-NS, Headlines, Legislation, Railroad Safety
(Source: NorthJersey.com, July 18, 2023) Freight trains, some stretching 100 cars long, carrying ethanol, crude oil and other hazardous materials travel within feet of thousands of homes, businesses and schools in Bergen County. Local officials and emergency...
July 17, 2023 | East Palestine-NS, Headlines, Legislation, Railroad Safety
(Source: Politico, July 14, 2023) An internal GOP dispute between party leaders and a motley crew of junior lawmakers is threatening to sink a bipartisan rail safety bill aimed at responding to February’s toxic spill in East Palestine, Ohio. Full story:...
July 17, 2023 | Amtrak, FRA, Headlines, Legislation
(Source: Progressive Railroading, July 14, 2023) A House subcommittee on July 12 advanced a fiscal-year 2024 appropriations bill that would slash funding to the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak and several rail-related programs. Full story: Progressive...
July 17, 2023 | Headlines, Legislation, Railroad Retirement
(Source: Railway Age, July 13, 2023) Two rail industry associations and two unions teamed recently to encourage Congressional support of the Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness Act (REEF Act; H.R.2785/S.1274), which they said would “eliminate cuts to railroad...
July 3, 2023 | Headlines, Legislation, STB
(Source: Trains Magazine, June 29, 2023) Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) on Wednesday introduced the Reliable Rail Service Act, which seeks to clarify the definition of railroads’ common carrier obligation and establish specific criteria for...
July 3, 2023 | 2-man Crews, Headlines, Legislation, Railroad Safety, Train Length
(Source: Associated Press, June 27, 2023) Spurred on by train derailments, some states with busy criss-crossing freight railroads are pursuing their own safety remedies rather than wait for federal action amid industry opposition and questions about whether they even...
June 22, 2023 | Headlines, Legislation, Railroad Safety
(Source: Wisconsin Examiner opinion column by Sarah Zarling, June 20, 2023) At a time when the nation’s attention to rail disasters has soared due to continued high-profile derailments, and with the likelihood that many more thousands of rail cars with hazardous...
June 22, 2023 | Headlines, Legislation, Railroad Safety, Unions
(Source: Freight Waves, June 21, 2023) The unions representing locomotive mechanics and railroad electricians want the Senate to take action to help move the rail safety bill toward a vote. IAM and IBEW estimate that they represent nearly 1.4 million members across...
June 16, 2023 | East Palestine-NS, Headlines, Legislation, Railroad Safety
(Source: Freight Waves, June 15, 2023) Blocked crossings and prevention of future derailments are among the key issues as three lobbying groups representing state and local governments push Senate leaders to bring the Railway Safety Act of 2023 to the Senate floor for...
