Transportation News

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Hamburger helper Norfolk Southern style

PLATTSBURG, Ohio — Call it hamburger helper after a Norfolk Southern freight train plowed into a herd of cattle on the tracks here near Columbus, killing some 20 of the Black Angus cows, reports the Associated Press. The Associated Press quoted a NS engineer that his train of [...]

Continuing income a concern for retirees

After a lifetime of hard work, SMART TD rail, bus and airline members look forward to a secure retirement. In an ideal world, it would be that simple. In the real world, careful planning and attention to detail are essential. Topping the list of retirement concerns are money [...]

Begin your document search early

To apply for Railroad Retirement or Social Security benefits, you must provide certain information, and it is suggested you begin the process at least three months prior to your anticipated retirement date. You will need the following information to register successfully for [...]

UP capital expenditures in 2011 to soar 25%

Union Pacific will increase its capital spending by 25 percent to $3.25 billion in 2011, reports the Journal of Commerce. UP capital exenditures in 2010 totaled $2.6 billion. UP said it will be purchasing as many as 200 new locomotives in 2011, upgrade numerous corridors to a [...]

Intermodal continues to roar for Class I rails

Intermodal traffic (trailers and containers carried atop flatcars) continues to roar for Class I railroads. During October, according to the Association of American Railroads, intermodal traffic soared by 14 percent versus October 2009. Weekly during October, according to the [...]

Congress 2011: How will HSR, rail transit fare?

WASHINGTON — One of first transportation challenges for federal rail transportation-project advocates — Democrats and Republicans — in the new Congress in 2011 will be how to preserve and allocate seed money for rail transit and high-speed rail projects. Bil [...]

Rails bringing T&E workers back to jobs

A ray of sunshine for working families is emerging from otherwise bleak economic news: Many Americans are going back to work. The Labor Department reports that 151,000 jobs were added during October, following four successive months of job losses. On the nation’s railro [...]

BNSF names new exec VP of operations

BNSF has appointed Greg Fox as executive vice president, operations, succeeding Carl Ice, who has been promoted to president and chief operating officer. Fox will be responsible for engineering; mechanical; transportation; safety training and operations support; and resource [...]

Boomer of 3rd quarter for major railroads

It was a boomer of a third quarter for major railroad profits. Blockbuster earnings were reported by Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, CSX, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific as railroads exercised market pricing power and enjoyed robust increases in [...]

Calif. voters lock-down rail, transit funds

Voters in California have approved a ballot proposition preventing the state or local governments from borrowing or redirecting to other budget projects any fuel tax or local property tax funds earmarked for transportation projects such as rail and transit. The California bal [...]