July 1, 2025 | DOT, FRA, News, Technology, Top News
BMWED President Tony Cardwell testified before members of Congress this week about the potential dangers of over-reliance on technology. ____________________ BLET members rely on Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) investigations to hold railroads accountable, but...
June 6, 2025 | Headlines, Short Line, Technology
(Source: Trains.com, June 5, 2025) Parallel Systems and Genesee & Wyoming short line Heart of Georgia Railroad this week began the first phase of testing of Parallel’s autonomous, battery-electric flat car. Full story: Trains.com
December 13, 2024 | Headlines, Technology, UP
(Source: Trains.com, December 13, 2024) Artificial intelligence is weaving itself into the daily operations of big U.S. railroads, helping managers make data-backed decisions about operating plans and identify trends among virtually any t process. Full story:...
October 31, 2024 | FRA, Headlines, Technology
(Source: Trains.com, October 28, 2024) The Federal Railroad Administration today proposed more stringent requirements that railroads must meet in order to obtain safety rule waivers that allow experimentation with track and equipment inspection technology. The...
July 2, 2024 | Amtrak, FRA, News, Technology
The BLET opposes the installation of shunt enhancer antennas on Amtrak’s fleet of Siemens Charger locomotives. Photo by David Estes ____________________ The BLET has filed written comments with the Federal Railroad Administration to oppose Amtrak’s request for a...
April 16, 2024 | FRA, News, Railroad Safety, Technology
The BLET has filed formal comments with the Federal Railroad Administration opposing a safety waiver that would allow the introduction of autonomous train technology in the United States. BLET Vice President & National Legislative Representative Vince Verna said...
March 19, 2024 | FRA, News, Technology
Actual photos of autonomous rail equipment differ significantly from the computer-generated imagery widely distributed by manufacturers. (BLET photo taken during 2022 demonstration in Culver City, Calif.) __________ BLET National Vice President Vince Verna reiterated...
February 12, 2024 | Historic/Steam, News, Technology
Andrew Jackson Beard (1849-1921), an African American inventor, was awarded patents in 1887 and 1899 for improvements to the automatic railroad car coupler. Beard had lost a leg in a car coupling accident earlier in his life. Original railroad couplers required the...
October 27, 2023 | Headlines, NS, Technology
(Source: Associated Press, October 26, 2023) To help quickly spot safety defects on moving trains, Norfolk Southern said on October 26 it has installed the first of more than a dozen of a new generation of automated inspection portals on its tracks in Ohio. The new...
October 5, 2023 | Headlines, NS, Technology
(Source: Progressive Railroading, October 2, 2023) For the second time in a month, Norfolk Southern Railway experienced a technology outage that impacted rail operations. On Sept. 30, the Class I announced its data center experienced an outage, which impacted the...
