Union members are putting a spotlight on the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in Ohio, with the Transportation Trades Department calling for greater safety oversight from the Federal Railroad Administration.
Republican lawmakers blame the Biden-backed $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill for boosting inflation and vow to step up oversight on how the money is spent.
In proposing a minimum train crew size of two members, FRA reverses its stance that crew size questions should be left to the railroads and the unions.
The Transportation Trades Department wants Congress to modify the language to ensure freight railroads provide adequate service.
Union Pacific is seeking to extend its tests on wheel temperature detectors, but the Transportation Trades Department disagrees with the way UP wants to deploy the technology.
The Federal Railroad Administration is now requiring the Class I railroads, Amtrak and commuter railroads to submit fatigue risk management plans annually to the agency.
BNSF has made some changes to the attendance policy that it implemented in February, but unions say the changes don’t go far enough to prevent worker fatigue.
The letter sent by the National Grain and Feed Association to regulators about subpar rail service is finding support among other rail industry stakeholders.
The union coalition calls on federal agencies and railroads to ensure attendance policies don’t result in overly fatigued locomotive engineers and train conductors.
Driver surveillance surfaces as a potential downside at a vehicle automation hearing.
