Federal Railroad Administration

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

Two days, two railroads in the spotlight: Missives flying over Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific

Charges, countercharges and the missives were flying back and forth over the future of two Class 1 railroads as February came to an end, with leading government officials that regulate the rails leveling heavy criticism at two distinct players.

In the proxy battle roiling Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC), the activist investor group Ancora is recommending the replacement of eight new directors to the Norfolk Southern board. It also wants to replace CEO Alan Shaw with former UPS executive Jim Barber...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/two-days-two-railroads-in-the-spotlight-missives-flying-over-norfolk-southern-union-pacific

FRA’s proposed rule on certifying rail car origins earns kudos from trade groups

googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot(‘/21776187881/FW-Responsive-Main_Content-Slot1’, [[728, 90], [468, 60], [300, 100], [320, 50]], ‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-1’).defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());
gptAdSlots.push(gptSlot);
});

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-1’); });

A proposed rule to prevent freight rail cars produced by Chinese entities from being used in the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fras-proposed-rule-on-certifying-rail-car-origins-earns-kudos-from-trade-groups

FRA doles out $8B in grants advancing passenger rail

The Federal Railroad Administration is awarding $8.2 billion in grants for high-speed passenger rail projects as well as projects supporting capital improvements in existing rail corridors.

While the Class I railroads generally fund their own track improvements, freight rail service can benefit from passenger rail grants because there are parts of the U.S. rail network where passenger rail and freight rail share track. Projects awarded with grant funding may be seeking to separate passenger rail...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fra-doles-out-8b-in-grants-advancing-passenger-rail

FRA wants railroads to bolster winter operation procedures

U.S. railroads should beef up the procedures they use for responding to adverse weather conditions, including seeing how weather-related technologies can be integrated into positive train control and whether the railroads can collaborate on developing best practices, according to a safety advisory from the Federal Railroad Administration.

The agency hopes that by issuing the safety advisory, railroads can reduce the incident level of weather-related accidents. In this latest advisory, FRA...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fra-wants-railroads-to-bolster-winter-operation-procedures

NTSB urges rail industry to take positive train control to the next level

googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot(‘/21776187881/FW-Responsive-Main_Content-Slot1’, [[728, 90], [468, 60], [300, 100], [320, 50]], ‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-3’).defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());
gptAdSlots.push(gptSlot);
});

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-3’); });

The rail industry should do more to leverage the safety benefits of positive train control (PTC),...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ntsb-urges-rail-industry-to-take-positive-train-control-to-the-next-level

Locomotive engineers’ union calls for limiting freight train lengths

googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot(‘/21776187881/FW-Responsive-Main_Content-Slot1’, [[728, 90], [468, 60], [300, 100], [320, 50]], ‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-1’).defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());
gptAdSlots.push(gptSlot);
});

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-1’); });

The argument over whether the Class I railroads should deploy longer trains continues, with the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/locomotive-engineers-union-calls-for-limiting-freight-train-lengths

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

FRA awards more than $1.4B to short-line and passenger rail projects

The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded more than $1.4 billion to 70 rail improvement projects across 35 states and the District of Columbia through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program. 

FRA said the award total is the largest amount ever given, with nearly two-thirds of the funding affecting rural communities. The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) also called the awards historic because they represented a record $720...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fra-awards-more-than-1-4b-to-short-line-and-passenger-rail-projects

Union Pacific defends rail safety program

Union Pacific wants to know what safety defects federal inspectors say they found when conducting focused inspections last month at the Class I railroad’s rail yard in North Platte, Nebraska.

UP CEO Jim Vena said in a letter Monday to Amit Bose, administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, that the railroad “will never compromise on the safety of our employees. We take the concerns raised very seriously and are confident we have the people and practices in place to responsibly maintain...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/union-pacific-defends-rail-safety-program

+ More
Join Our Newsletter
Enter your email to receive a weekly round-up of shipping news.
icon
By subscribing, you agree with our privacy policy and our terms of service.