The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) revealed its intention to issue a proposed rule requiring two-person train crews on crude oil trains and establishing minimum crew size standards for most mainline freight and passenger rail operations. The FRA also intends to advance a rulemaking on train securement and recommends a rulemaking on the movement of hazardous materials.
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), launched a new public service advertising (PSA) campaign called See Tracks? Think Train!, which aims to reduce pedestrian and driver injuries and fatalities around railroad tracks by highlighting behaviors that put people at risk.
U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) led a letter from 16 senators, calling on the Senate Appropriations Committee to support new investment and resources for a Safe Transportation of Energy Products Fund to address existing and emerging issues related to the transportation of Bakken crude and other energy products. The Senators also called for increased investment for inspection personnel.
Union Pacific Railroad began work to improve infrastructure in Nebraska and by investing more than $9 million in the rail line between near Missouri Valley, Iowa, and Arlington, Neb. The project began April 1 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the month.
A record number of attendees joined researchers from Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI), at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, Colo., for the Association of American Railroads 19th Annual Research Review April 1-2, 2014. This year’s theme was “Innovative Technology Developments in North American Railways.”
The Senate Finance Committee passed legislation, Expiring Provisions Improvement Reform and Efficiency (EXPIRE) Act, on April 3 renewing a set of provisions known as “tax extenders.”
Two Illinois state agencies pledged funding for transportation studies covering Decatur and Macon County that will examine how to increase and better handle freight moving through the region. The studies will look for ways to capitalize on growth of multi-modal shipping at the region’s Midwest Inland Port and at the operations of Archer Daniels Midland Co.
The Evansville Western Railway, an affiliate of CSX, commenced operations at a state-of-the-art intermodal terminal located just off State Road 60 in Winter Haven, Fla. Known as the Central Florida Intermodal Logistics Center (ILC), this facility serves as a centralized hub for transportation, logistics and distribution serving Orlando, Tampa and South Florida.
The Fatality Analysis of Maintenance-of-way Employees and Signalmen (FAMES) Committee published a series of recommendations to improve roadway worker projection when trackwork occurs where adjacent track is present. Between 1997 and 2012, 25 percent of roadway worker fatal accidents have occurred on adjacent track.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) published its report on an April 2013 Canadian Pacific accident and found poor drainage and water-damaged track bed led to 17 cars derailing.
Wabtec Corporation has signed contracts for $16.6 million with Alaska Railroad Corporation to provide Positive Train Control (PTC) equipment and services, including computer-aided dispatch and back office systems. The systems will be installed on the railroad’s 525 miles of controlled track, which are used for both freight and regularly scheduled passenger service.
New York state will make additional efforts to protect residents from potential disasters involving the transport of crude oil.
Trainmen and engineers represented by the United Transportation Union Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (UTU-SMART) and employed by Chicago Rail Link have ratified a new six-year agreement, with 95 percent of the affected employees voting in favor of the deal.
Emphasizing the importance of cooperation with local emergency responders and an commitment to preparedness, Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI), President Lisa Stabler testified before the U.S. Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia about the railroad industry’s continuing safety efforts.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has approved eight highway-rail grade crossing projects in Lucas, Seneca, Stark and Wood counties.
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) allocated $334 million in funding to 53 projects, including $48 million to the Alameda Corridor East – Construction Authority (ACE) Puente Avenue Grade Separation Project.
Watco Transportation Services named Ron Chadwick as general manager of the Ann Arbor Railroad (AA). Ron will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the AA, as well as coordinating efforts between all railroad departments and achieving performance goals with optimum safety, economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
On March 24, the N.C. Department of Transportation will begin a rail project to add 11 miles of second track to the Norfolk Southern line between Salisbury and Kannapolis. The work will involve upgrading some railroad crossings and permanently closing others, extending Kimball Road from Main Street to Center Avenue and constructing a bridge carrying the North Carolina Railroad tracks over Kimball Road.
Union Pacific will strengthen Missouri’s transportation infrastructure by investing nearly $11.8 million in the rail line between near Kansas City, Mo., and near Marshall, Mo. The project, funded entirely by UP, began March 18 and is scheduled to be completed by June 2, 2014.
On March 18, members of the Senate and House Appropriation Committee toured the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Transportation Technology Center (TTC), near Pueblo, Colo., to learn firsthand about the activities being performed at the site.
