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

BNSF and train conductors union reach work scheduling deal

Western U.S. Class I railroad BNSF and the union representing train conductors have reached a systemwide agreement on work scheduling.

BNSF (NYSE: BRK-B) said the agreement with the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, Transportation Division (SMART-TD) “goes well beyond” the mandatory local bargaining items recommended by the Presidential Emergency Board, a three-member independent panel brought in last summer by President Joe Biden and the unions when...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bnsf-and-train-conductors-union-reach-work-scheduling-deal

Freight rail union calls for more extensive training of conductors

Following two recent deaths involving conductor trainees, the union representing train conductors is calling for more stringent training than what’s being offered now at the freight railroads, according to an internal safety advisory produced by the union.

The call for action by the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Railroad and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division (SMART-TD) was spurred by the two deaths of conductor trainees that occurred within 60 days of each other...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freight-rail-union-calls-for-more-extensive-training-of-conductors

All eyes on Vena as he takes helm at Union Pacific

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Freight rail stakeholders will be watching closely as Union Pacific’s incoming CEO Jim Vena takes...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/all-eyes-on-vena-as-he-takes-helm-at-union-pacific

Railroads reach deals with unions on sick leave, conductor training

Class I railroads BNSF and CSX have announced agreements with key labor groups: BNSF reached a sick leave and work-rest agreement with the union representing locomotive engineers, while CSX and the union representing conductors partnered to enhance CSX’s training program for conductors.

BNSF strikes sick leave and work-rest agreement with BLET

Western U.S. rail carrier BNSF has reached a systemwide agreement for sick leave with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/railroads-reach-deals-with-unions-on-sick-leave-conductor-training

Union Pacific and SMART-TD hash out sick leave deal

Union Pacific has reached a sick leave agreement with the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD), the union group that represents train conductors.

The tentative agreement, which would affect around 5,900 employees, provides up to eight paid sick leave days, UP (NYSE: UNP) said Sunday. The agreement consists of five additional paid sick days annually that would be prorated for 2023, and then the potential to convert up to three paid leave days...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/union-pacific-and-smart-td-hash-out-sick-leave-deal

Rail Roundup: Port of Virginia to invest $18M to upgrade facilities

Port of Virginia to invest more than $18M at Virginia Inland Port and Richmond Marine Terminal

The Port of Virginia is planning to invest more than $18 million to expand capacity at the Virginia Inland Port (VIP) near Front Royal and the Richmond Marine Terminal (RMT).

At VIP, the Port of Virginia has plans to expand and reconfigure the terminal’s rail operation and the container stack yard through building three new rail sidings and installing backbone infrastructure for technology, the port...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-roundup-port-of-virginia-to-invest-18m-to-upgrade-facilities

Union Pacific, SMART-TD agree to suspend train crew reconfiguration

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Union Pacific and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/union-pacific-smart-td-agree-to-suspend-train-crew-reconfiguration

NS, SMART-TD to hold off on conductor redeployment talks

Norfolk Southern and the union representing train conductors have tabled discussions on redeploying conductors and instead will focus on other measures to improve quality-of-life issues. 

This decision comes as congressional lawmakers have been busy considering what initiatives should be included in a rail safety bill.

NS (NYSE: NSC) and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers — Transportation Division (SMART-TD) are discontinuing formal negotiations on...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ns-smart-td-to-hold-off-on-conductor-redeployment-talks

Rail workers say safety legislation doesn’t go far enough

Rail union groups are lending support to federal officials’ calls to reform rail safety but say even more steps can be taken to implement and bolster safe practices.

Railroad Workers United (RWU), an interunion group consisting of craft employees, said the Railway Safety Act proposed by a bipartisan group of five senators last week is a good first step by calling for restrictions on train length and weight, train crew staffing minimums, the regulation of wayside detectors and restrictions on the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-workers-say-safety-legislation-doesnt-go-far-enough

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