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Canadian rails fight new rules to prevent crew fatigue

October 29, 2014 Canada’s major freight rail companies are fighting moves by the federal transportation regulator to curb “extreme fatigue” among railway engineers, a CBC News investigation has found. CN Rail, CP and the Railway Association of Canada went on the attack two weeks ago at a “ten [...]

Tags CN, CP, crew fatigue, fatigue, tired

NTSB cites sleep apnea in 2013 Metro-North crash

October 29, 2014 The National Transportation Safety Board said Oct. 28 that the December 2013 Metro-North train derailment that killed four and injured 61 occurred when the train engineer had fallen asleep. The train rounded a curve at 82 mph, well above the 30-mph speed restriction. The NTSB [...]

Tags derailment, Metro-North, Sleep Apnea

Destination America renews ‘Railroad Alaska’

October 24, 2014 Destination America is returning to Alaska. The Discovery owned cable network has renewed Railroad Alaska for a second season, which is set to premiere on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 9/8c, TVWise has learned. Railroad Alaska follows an elite crew who live along Alask’a critical rai [...]

Tags Alaska Railroad

Local 378 hosts "call to action" labor rally

October 23, 2014 With the assistance of SMART Transportation Division Ohio State Legislative Director Stu Gardner, Transportation Division Local 378 at Cleveland held a “call to action” labor rally Oct. 20 at Sheet Metal Division Local 33’s union hall and training center in [...]

Tags David Otten, Jeffrey Brandow, labor rally, Local 378, Pillich, Stu Gardner

Introducing @SMARTUnionWorks on Instagram

October 23, 2014 SMART is now on Instagram. You can follow us at @SMARTUnionWorks. This adds to our social media presence on FaceBook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.

California Energy Commission Grants Conditional Approval to ICB/TABB

October 23, 2014 On June 24, the California Energy Commission determined that the Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau (TABB—a function of NEMIC) met the requirements in Section 10-103-B(e) of the Standards to be conditionally approved as an authorized Interim Mechanical Acceptance Test Te [...]

Organizing Success

October 23, 2014 ALSTOM On April 22, SMART won an election 5 – 1 to represent the fulltime material handlers at the New Castle, DE, facility for Alstom. These workers sort and deliver parts to our SMART members who work on the Acela Train for Amtrak in Wilmington and Bear, DE. Picture [...]

Pa. legislative board calls members to action

October 22, 2014 Pennsylvania State Legislative Director Paul Pokrowka is asking all SMART Transportation Division members from Pennsylvania to take action and contact the office of Gov. Tom Corbett, requesting he sign House Bill 2354 into law. The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA [...]

Tags EPA, House Bill 2354, Paul Pokrowka, Pennsylvania

Class I railroads announce third quarter results

October 22, 2014 In a press release Oct. 14, CSX announced record third quarter profits. The railroad said that operating income increased 16 percent and operating ratio improved 220 points. Operating income came in at $976 million with an operating ratio of 69.7 percent. CSX also saw volume [...]

Tags Class I railroad earnings, CN, CP, CSX, KCS, NS, operating ratio, third quarter, UP

Hotel converts Pullman rail cars into luxury suites

October 22, 2014 Guests at an upscale U.S. hotel can choose to stay in historic train cars that have been transformed into luxury suites and rest on their original tracks. Built within a major rail station, the Crowne Plaza in downtown Indianapolis, Ind., features 13 authentic 1920s Pullman t [...]

Tags Pullman cars