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Railroad Retirement explain survivor benefits

February 24, 2015 Monthly benefits may be payable under the Railroad Retirement Act to the surviving widow(er), children, and certain other dependents of a railroad employee if the employee was “insured” under that act at the time of death. Lump-sum death benefits may also be payable to qualif [...]

Tags Railroad Retirement Board, RRB, survivor benefits

Metrolink train hits truck, derails in Calif.

February 24, 2015 A Metrolink train derailed early Tuesday, Feb. 24, in Oxnard, Calif., after slamming into a truck that was in flames. Twenty-eight people were injured, four critically. The driver of the truck fled the scene and was taken into custody, officials said. The train was going 79 m [...]

Tags derailment, Los Angeles, Metrolink

“Extraordinary” Session in WI Legislature Will Take Up Right To Work for less Bill

February 20, 2015 Republican leaders in Wisconsin are fast-tracking right-to-work for less legislation and Gov. Scott Walker’s spokeswoman said Friday he would sign the measure, despite refusing to say whether he would do so in his re-election campaign last year. Senate Majority Leader S [...]

Two-Person Crew Bills Introduced in Neb., Wyo.

February 13, 2015 Legislation requiring two-person railroad crews in the states of Nebraska and Wyoming have been introduced in the respective state legislatures. Nebraska State Legislative Director Bob Borgeson reports that state Legislative Bill 192, legislation requiring freight train crews [...]

Tags Nebraska, two-person rail crews, Wyoming

Rail Worker Safety Bills Marked Up in Wash. State

February 13, 2015 Members of the SMART Transportation Division’s Washington State Legislative Board have been quite busy in recent weeks. Working with the board members and state emergency management officials, state senators and representatives of the Washington State Legislature Jan. 29 intr [...]

Tags Herb Krohn, two-person rail crews, Washington state

House Committee Approves Amtrak Funding Legislation

February 13, 2015 The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Feb. 12 unanimously approved bipartisan legislation that improves the infrastructure, reduces costs, creates greater accountability and transparency, leverages private sector resources, and accelerates project delivery for Amtra [...]

Tags Amtrak, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, passenger rail

House committee approves Amtrak funding legislation

Tags Amtrak, passenger rail, Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015, PRRIA, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

SEPTA bus operators ink new two-year agreement

February 12, 2015 Members of the SMART Transportation Division employed by Southeastern Pennsylvania Metropolitan Transportation Authority ratified Jan. 11 a 2.5-year agreement with the carrier. The contract, which is retroactive to April 1, 2014, and extends until Nov. 18, 2016, covers bus op [...]

Tags Anthony Petty, Brian Caldwell, bus, Calvin Studivant, Curtis Fulmore, Dave Stinsman, Eric Goodwin, SEPTA, Southeastern Pennsylvania Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Waverly Harris

African American railroaders forge history at museum

February 12, 2015 ROANOKE, Va. – Members of the African American Norfolk & Western Heritage Group in Roanoke stepped behind a curtain and took their first look at how the Virginia Museum of Transportation will present their history. “I think it’s great,” said Carroll Swain, 87, one of the [...]

Tags African-American railroad workers, history, Norfolk & Western Heritage Group

Foxx says PTC deadline will not be extended

February 12, 2015 A Dec. 31 deadline for railroads to equip all trains with crash-avoidance technology known as “positive train controls” won’t be extended, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said Feb. 11. Testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Commi [...]

Tags Anthony Foxx, positive train control, PTC