Category: Amtrak/Commuter News
House seeks funding for transit security in wake of Russia subway attack
After a subway attack in Russia this week, more than 80 representatives asked House appropriators to make sure that the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) will be fully funded. Lawmakers said TSGP could face deep funding cuts under President Trump’s budget. “We [...]
Safety over profit: Act now! Urge Ohio Transportation Committee to support 2-person crew bill!
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The first step in the process to mandate a minimum of two-person freight train crews in Ohio (H.B. 107) occurred Wednesday, March 29, when the Ohio Transportation & Safety Committee held its first hearing on the bill. To make H.B. 107 a law in Ohio, [...]
38 UP freight cars derail in Texas, no injuries reported
MALAKOFF, Texas – inForney.com reported that 38 Union Pacific (UP) freight cars derailed in this small eastern Texas city on Wednesday, March 29. Authorities said that the diesel spill from two ruptured cars was contained and was not a danger to the public or to local w [...]Editorial: ‘Fast trains will not just show up at the station’ by Edward Wytkind, Pres., TTD, AFL-CIO
Click here to read an editorial by Edward Wytkind, President, Transportation Trades Department (TTD), AFL-CIO, on the significance of federal support and investment in high-speed commuter rail. The editorial was posted March 30, 2017, by Medium.com.Mexican company announces deal to acquire Florida East Coast Railway
MEXICO CITY, Mexico – The Railway Gazette reported that Grupo México announced that its transportation division – México Transportes (GMXT) – reached an agreement to acquire Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) from Fortress Investment Group. The announcement wa [...]Trump’s budget would end Amtrak’s long-distance service
President Trump’s 2018 proposed budget seeks to cut federal funding for Amtrak’s long-distance train services, which would end coast-to-coast commuter rail services and would kill regional and long-distance services, including the following popular commuter rail r [...]
2-person crews mandated for Boston duck boats – trains next?
BOSTON – 7 News Boston reported that the Massachusetts state legislature recently mandated that all duck boats must be operated by two-person crews. The measure came in response to a growing number of duck boat-related injuries and fatalities. Read the complete story he [...]
Furloughed UP workers rehired in North Platte, Nebraska
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – The North Platte Telegraph reported that of the 4,600 Union Pacific Railroad (UP) workers that were furloughed in April of 2016, nearly 3,000 of those workers have been rehired. The jobs that were cut last year were mostly train, engine and rail ya [...]