Category: Transportation
Train disaster spurs rail vs. pipeline debate
A train disaster that killed five people in Quebec promises to touch off debate over the safety of shipping crude oil by rail or pipelines such as TransCanada Corp. (TRP)’s Keystone XL. As authorities began investigating the explosion of refinery-bound tank cars hauled by Mon [...]
Futhey to step down following arbitration proceedings
At the conclusion of the SMART Transportation Division’s Boston regional meeting July 3, Transportation Division President Mike Futhey announced he will step down from office, pending resolution of arbitration proceedings regarding the union’s constitution. In October 2011, G [...]Three confirmed dead in freight train explosion
QUEBEC – The official death toll has grown to three Lac-Mégantic, Que., one day after a derailed train carrying crude oil exploded in the town’s core, levelling buildings and forcing as many as 2,000 people from their homes. Quebec provincial police said two more bodies were [...]
Amtrak barred from rulemaking over freight rails
Amtrak’s role in setting on-time performance standards that could trigger U.S. investigations of railroads whose trains get in its way are unconstitutional, a federal appeals court ruled. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington today said Congress had i [...]
Rep. Lynch, Boardman visit Boston regional meeting
The SMART Transportation Division opened its Boston regional meeting July 1 with a town hall forum at which SMART members were able to pose questions directly to the union’s leadership. More than 800 members, guests and presenters are attending the regional meeting. Aft [...]
Foxx may be sworn in this week as DOT leader
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Former Charlotte mayor Anthony Foxx is expected to be sworn-in as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation on Tuesday after he officially resigned his position with the city on Monday afternoon. Foxx resigned as Charlotte’s mayor during a special meeting w [...]Court: Ala. discriminates against railroads
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal appeals court July 1 ruled that Alabama discriminated against railroads by forcing them to pay a sales tax on fuel when it exempts its competitors – trucking and barge companies. The U.S. 11th Court of Criminal Appeals issued its opin [...]600 LIRR retirees to lose disability pay
About 600 Long Island Rail Road retirees will lose their disability benefits after a federal agency voted last week to halt the payments, amid a sweeping investigation into what prosecutors have called a major disability fraud scheme, according to agency documents and officia [...]