Category: Transportation
FRA beefs-up its PTC team
WASHINGTON – The FRA has has strengthened its positive train control (PTC) team, naming Mark Hartong as senior scientific technical adviser for railroad electronic systems within the FRA’s Office of Safety. Hartong’s primary responsibility, said the agency, “will be to ensure [...]
Toward 150-mph Midwest rail passenger service
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – UTU Missouri State Legislative Director Ken Menges is halfway toward a goal of creating a public rail commission to study means of expanding and financing improved multi-modal passenger transportation in his state and throughout the Midwest, with an emphasi [...]Healthier lifestyle, longer life a mouse click away
Small can be big – especially when “small” is small lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, more exercise, a reduction in alcohol consumption, and kicking a tobacco habit. Such lifestyle changes, say health care experts, may lead to “big” health improvements and a happier you [...]
Vigilance key to protecting pension benefits
By UTU International President Mike Futhey – Railroaders should not lose sleep over a rumor that Congress will cut Railroad Retirement benefits. The rumor began after language was inserted in a budget report by conservative Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) suggesting the federal defi [...]Medco now Express Scripts; no changes foreseen
Many UTU members obtain their prescription drugs through Medco, which has been acquired by Express Scripts following Federal Trade Commission approval of the corporate combination. Notwithstanding the acquisition by Express Scripts of Medco, UTU members receiving mail order p [...]NTSB cites fatigue, no PTC as fatal crash causes
“Fatigue,” says the National Transportation Safety Board, was “the probable cause” of rear-end accident involving two BNSF freight trains near Red Oak, Iowa, April 17, 2011, that killed a UTU-member conductor and the train’s engineer. The NTSB concluded that the crewmembers w [...]First quarter 2012 rail profits wrap-up
BNSF reported a 15 percent increase in profit forf the first quarter 2012 versus first quarter 2011, citing improved pricing and higher fuel surcharges. BNSF’s first quarter 2012 operating ratio of 74.4 percent was one percentage point lower than for the first quarter 2 [...]Railroad Retirement benefits not in danger
Railroad retirees and current rail workers should not be losing sleep over the much-hyped rumor that Congress is going to abolish Railroad Retirement, cut Railroad Retirement benefits or otherwise do harm to a system supported financially entirely by carriers and labor since [...]