Association of American Railroads

Feds mandate 2-person minimum for most train crews

WASHINGTON — Large freight railroads will have to undergo a rigorous approval process if they want to streamline operations down to one-person train crews.

The new requirement is part of the Federal Railroad Administration’s final rule announced on Tuesday mandating a two-person crew minimum on trains operated by Class 1 railroads unless a railroad can obtain approval for a one-person crew from FRA.

Such an approval will require railroads to demonstrate to FRA, through a petition and public...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/feds-mandate-2-person-minimum-for-most-train-crews

CBP reopens key ports of entry for freight trains at US-Mexico border

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection reopened the three international border bridges at Eagle Pass and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cbp-reopens-key-ports-of-entry-for-freight-trains-at-us-mexico-border

Maintenance-of-way rail union and Union Pacific tussle over furloughs

Debate about furloughs at Union Pacific and how many employees could be affected continue to play out in the public arena following a recent industry conference where Surface Transportation Board Chairman Marty Oberman called out Union Pacific leadership.

The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way – Employes Division (BMWED) sent two letters to the STB: one on Oct. 27 before the RailTrends conference in November hosted by Progressive Railroading and independent Wall Street analyst Tony Hatch and one...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/maintenance-of-way-rail-union-and-union-pacific-tussle-over-furloughs

Railroads take on EPA’s pollution-reporting proposal

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WASHINGTON — A Biden administration proposal to change how rail carriers report air emissions data...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/railroads-take-on-epas-pollution-reporting-proposal

Kansas governor signs bill mandating minimum 2-person train crews

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Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has signed a bill requiring freight trains operating within the state to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/kansas-governor-signs-bill-mandating-minimum-2-person-train-crews

Rail intermodal volumes stabilize in September

September was the highest month in 2023 for U.S. intermodal traffic, finding support in the peak season, according to the Association of American Railroads.

U.S. freight railroads originated 1 million containers and trailers in September, a 0.7% increase from September 2022. Year-over-year (y/y) comparisons so far this year have had intermodal volumes trailing year-ago levels.

“Intermodal had the best volume month of the year in September, showing, after three years, that ‘peak season’ still...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-intermodal-volumes-stabilize-in-september

How will a government shutdown affect freight railroads?

On the surface, a government shutdown — which can occur if Congress can’t agree on how to handle the appropriations budgets — would have a limited impact on freight rail operations.

Freight railroads will keep running, transporting parts, materials and goods within North America and to and from the coastal ports. Ensuring safe operations will also be paramount, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

“As a privately owned and maintained industry, rail operations will continue...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-will-a-government-shutdown-affect-freight-railroads

Freight interests frustrated with leadership vacuum at DOT

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WASHINGTON — A group of 16 organizations representing the full scope of the freight supply chain are...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freight-interests-frustrated-with-leadership-vacuum-at-dot

Rail trade group says federal safety hotline could be misused

The sticking point between railroads and rail worker unions over a federal hotline for reporting safety concerns is how to ensure rail employees don’t misuse the system to avoid discipline, the head of the railroads’ trade group said in a letter Thursday to government officials.

The impasse is over how the confidential close call reporting system (C3RS) should handle situations in which an employee makes repeat calls over a “known event” — one in which a railroad might be already aware of a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-trade-group-says-federal-safety-hotline-could-be-misused

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