Rail safety

House rail safety hearing highlights new legislation

This story originally appeared on Trains.com

WASHINGTON — Legislators used a House subcommittee hearing on railroad safety Tuesday to highlight a new rail safety bill. But committee members and witnesses including regulators, union representatives, and the House member representing East Palestine questioned the rail industry’s own safety efforts.

The revised bill, the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act (H.R. 8996), was introduced July 11, according to the House website, although the full text was...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/house-rail-safety-hearing-highlights-new-legislation

How Congress should think about NTSB’s East Palestine rail report

By Loren Smith

The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates.

On Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board will hold an unusual field hearing in East Palestine, Ohio, to release its accident investigation report on last year’s derailment.

These accident investigation board meetings usually occur in Washington. The NTSB is certainly hoping to make a splash more than 16 months after the incident — and with...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-congress-should-think-about-ntsbs-east-palestine-rail-report

Railroads can prevent further derailments by looking at history

By Bart M. Schwartz, chairman of Guidepost Solutions

The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates.

There are approximately three railroad incidents in the United States each day. Some are fatal and otherwise more destructive than others.

In early March, a Norfolk Southern train derailed, with two cars landing in the Hoosic River in New York. In February 2023 — just over a year ago — a Norfolk Southern train...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/railroads-can-prevent-further-derailments-by-looking-at-history

Norfolk Southern fulfills promise to join federal safety program C3RS

Norfolk Southern is so far the only Class I railroad to join a Federal Railroad Administration safety program as the first anniversary of the derailment of an NS train in East Palestine, Ohio, looms.

The Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS) encourages employees to report any “close call” incidents without fear of disciplinary action from NS  (NYSE: NSC). The goal is to foster an environment where workers do not fear for their jobs for reporting facts after an unsafe event occurs.

In...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/norfolk-southern-fulfills-promise-to-join-federal-safety-program-c3rs

7 hot issues for rail stakeholders in 2024

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’); });

Railroads, shippers and unions are tracking hot topics ranging from service improvement to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/7-hot-issues-for-rail-stakeholders-in-2024

Will Congress pass any rail safety bills in 2024?

The passage of any rail safety legislation in Congress next year is likely to be influenced by two things, industry observers told FreightWaves: the 2024 presidential election and the release of a report by the National Transportation Safety Board on the February 2023 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio.

That February derailment — although it resulted in no injuries or deaths — has prompted calls to bolster rail safety because it led to the venting of tank cars...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/will-congress-pass-any-rail-safety-bills-in-2024

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

Chances dim for Senate vote on rail safety bill: Consultant

Prospects for rail safety legislation in Congress to move forward in the waning weeks of 2023 appear dim, given other pressing national issues and even “mental exhaustion” among politicians, according to a former U.S. Department of Transportation official who now heads a consulting firm.

“I think the bottom line is that it’s probably unlikely at this point that we’re gonna see any legislation this year. And next year — being an election year  — is also looking pretty grim as far as prospects for...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/chances-dim-for-senate-vote-on-rail-safety-bill-consultant

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

Railroad signalers union to conduct safety program with Norfolk Southern

The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) announced two endeavors Thursday involving the two Eastern U.S. Class I railroads: a collaboration with Norfolk Southern for a pilot safety program with Norfolk Southern (NS) and a sick leave agreement with CSX. 

BRS’ collaboration with NS (NYSE: NSC) will consist of a one-year pilot program developed with input from the Federal Railroad Administration. The program will look at identifying safety improvements and best practices when sharing information...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/railroad-signalers-union-to-conduct-safety-program-with-norfolk-southern

+ More