From the Ballast Archives

Rail Safety Is Too Important For Corporate Discretion

January 30, 2026 A veteran Louisiana railroader dismantles the myth that safety mandates hurt efficiency, arguing from lived experience that federal rail safety rules exist because companies repeatedly choose profit over people when left to police themselves. Read on to see why rail workers, not think tanks or lobbyists, are the true experts on what it takes to keep crews and communities safe, and why the Rail Safety Act deserves a full vote in Congress.

From The Ballast: Editorial By Wes Ekstedt, 13-year member of Local 445 (Galesburg, Illinois)

November 26, 2024 We have seen the reach of corporate interests increase and the consequences have had a negative influence. Some may think that Trump will help. Some may think the Democrats are the answer. I believe both of those groups are wrong. We will have battles that will decide not only our safety, but the existence of our positions. We will not win those battles if we allow division among ourselves.

Colorado SLD: Ulterior motives fueled editorial regarding rail safety bill

April 29, 2024 Editors are entitled to take liberties with what they put in their columns. This is not new to the editorial pages, and the SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD), the nation’s largest freight rail union, is never shy about expressing its opinion, either.

Tags Colorado State Legislative Director Carl Smith, House Bill 1030

BLET buys into Ancora’s promises

April 28, 2024 The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) abandoned 10 other rail unions because of a “memorandum of understanding” it reached with Ancora’s aspiring Norfolk Southern (NS) management.

Tags Ancora, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, Norfolk Southern Corp.

A simulated derailment is shown in January during railroad worker hazmat training in Houston.

From the Ballast: Cowboy boots and hazmat suits

February 17, 2024 This article was contributed by Johnny Walker, SMART-TD Local 610's legislative representative. Rail conductors and all other crafts have a role to play in the event of a derailment or accident. In these situations, conductors are first on the scene.

Tags Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness, Legislative Representative Johnny Walker, Local 610

From the ballast: On-the-job incidents can bring about PTSD

June 27, 2023 If you find yourself in a crisis situation, the SMART Members Assistance Program (MAP) is available to help. Please call 877-884-6227 for free and confidential assistance. Your employer also may have an in-house employee assistance program (EAP) available. Tuesday, June 27, 2 [...]

Tags critical incident, From the Ballast, post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, SMART Member Assistance Program

From the Ballast: ‘Getting railroaded’

March 28, 2023 “From the Ballast” is an open column for SMART Transportation Division rail members to state their perspective on issues related to the railroad industry. Members of the union are encouraged to submit content by emailing to news_TD@smart-union.org. Columns are published at th [...]

Tags From the Ballast, precision scheduled railroading, safety, solidarity, two-person crews