Category: News
FRA issues guidance memorandum on EO 28
The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a guidance memorandum for Emergency Order 28, which seeks to prevent trains operating on mainline tracks or sidings from moving unintentionally. The memorandum has been sent to all Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) member [...]Szabo ‘shocked’ at MM&A’s one-person train crews
The nation’s top railroad administrator has told the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway that he is “shocked” that the company has not adopted a policy of using two-person crews on its trains in the United States. In a letter to the Maine-based company, F [...]Avantair to be liquidated
Clearwater Fla.-based Avantair’s assets will be sold off and the company liquidated after it failed to meet a deadline last week to contest an involuntary Chapter 7 filing in the Florida Middle District U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Tampa. Judge Catherine McEwen signed an order on [...]Canada eyes PTC following disaster
After the recent disaster in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is looking at possibly implementing positive train control (PTC) systems on its railroads. In 2010 and 2012, two major train derailments have been linked to trainmen not followi [...]Former UTU Vice President Kenneth R. Moore dies
Former UTU International Vice President and Bus Department Director Kenneth R. Moore, 85, died Aug. 18. He was a member of Local 1563 at El Monte, Calif. Born in Danville, Ark., Moore began his career in transportation as a bus operator for the Long Beach, Calif., Motor Bus C [...]
UP seeks to install in-cab cameras
OMAHA, Nebraska — At least two major U.S. freight railroads are seeking to install cameras in their locomotives to make sure crews are following rules and avoiding cellphone use. Union Pacific asked a federal judge this week to declare it has the authority to install the came [...]Nigro to join Omaha Labor Day festivities
This Labor Day, SMART General President Joseph Nigro will be present for the Omaha, Neb., Labor Day parade and other festivities. The SMART Transportation Division, led by Transportation Division Nebraska State Legislative Director Bob Borgeson, will also host other events at [...]Court rules taxes withheld from jury award
OMAHA, Nebraska — A trial judge was wrong to order BNSF railroad to pay the full amount awarded by a jury to a former railroad worker without deducting federal railroad retirement taxes, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled Friday. Eddie Heckman, of Alliance, was injured on the j [...]