February 9, 2024 | East Palestine-NS, Headlines, PSR, Railroad Safety
(Source: National Public Radio, February 8, 2024) ProPublica Reporter Topher Sanders has spent the last two years with his colleagues reviewing court and regulatory records of thousands of incidents involving trains. They’ve conducted 200 interviews, including...
February 8, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Legislation, News, Railroad Safety, Train Length
Virginia State Senator Jennifer D. Carroll Foy (center, maroon), the Chief Patron of SB 143, with the BLET’s Herb Harris (green tie) and Tim Craver (far right) and fellow supporters of the rail safety bill. ____________________ In a follow up to a recent Legislative...
February 8, 2024 | BNSF, Headlines, Lawsuit, PSR, Railroad Safety
(Source: Television station KSTP, February 7, 2024) As the country focuses on rail safety following derailments here and around the country, Don Sanders’ recordings raise new questions about internal operations at the BNSF Railway Sanders spent nearly a decade with...
February 8, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Headlines, Legislation, Railroad Safety
(Source: Nebraska Examiner, February 2, 2024) A filibuster stretching over three days derailed a proposal Friday to require two-person crews on trains operated by major railroads in Nebraska. Full story: Nebraska Examiner
February 8, 2024 | FRA, Headlines, Railroad Safety, Short Line
(Source: Railfan & Railroad Magazine, February 6, 2024) The Federal Railroad Administration issued a rare emergency order shutting down an Oklahoma short line following the discovery of multiple derailments and safety violations. In an emergency order posted this...
February 8, 2024 | East Palestine-NS, Headlines, Railroad Safety
(Source: Washington Post, February 3, 2024) Publicly, Norfolk Southern and its peers have pledged to work with lawmakers on the bill. But the companies have still labored to severely weaken or eliminate some of its core provisions, according to 15 lawmakers,...
February 6, 2024 | East Palestine-NS, News, Railroad Safety
In an interview with America’s Work Force Union Podcast, BLET National President Eddie Hall talked about growing concerns with rail safety one year after the tragic events of East Palestine, Ohio. He said the Norfolk Southern derailment of February 3, 2023, brought...
February 5, 2024 | Derailment, Fatality, FRA, Legislation, News, NS, Railroad Safety
On January 25, 2024, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced a final rule requiring railroads to provide emergency escape breathing apparatuses to train crew members who work on hazardous materials trains. The FRA press release announcing the final rule...
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...
February 2, 2024 | News, NS, Railroad Safety
The BLET and Norfolk Southern will begin working together to improve safe train operations under a joint FRA Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS). The Implementing Memorandum of Understanding (IMOU), was announced on January 29. C3RS allows operating...
