Lawmakers press LIRR to settle with unions

Members of the Long Island congressional delegation are beginning to pressure the MTA to settle a contract dispute with Long Island Rail Road union workers and avert a strike that could cripple the nation’s largest commuter rail system as soon as next month. But the Met [...]

Rail firms to adopt safer tank cars on their own

Companies that transport massive amounts of flammable crude oil say that, after several fiery explosions, they’re not waiting for the U.S. government to issue new regulations and will replace tank cars with new safer cars as fast as they can. Two oil companies, two Canadian r [...]

UP Chairman Jim Young dies

James R. Young, who advanced to become Union Pacific Corp. (UNP) chairman, president and chief executive officer after starting with the railroad company in an entry-level finance position, died today. He was 61 years old. He died after a two-year battle with pancreatic cance [...]

Retired general chairperson Jesse E. Carr dies

Jesse E. Carr, 95, retired general chairperson of former Southern Railway – Lines West General Committee of Adjustment GO 903 died Dec 26. A member of SMART Transportation Division Local 338 at Chattanooga, Tenn., Carr retired in 1982 following 41 years of continuous membersh [...]

MM&A Railway had repeated brake violations

Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway Ltd. (MM&A) had been the subject of repeated infraction notices for violations of the rules surrounding the securing of trains for years before the tragedy in Lac-Mégantic, but Transport Canada never imposed any sanctions on the comp [...]

Train carrying Canadian oil derails, leaks in Pa.

A 120-car train making its way across Pennsylvania derailed Thursday morning, spilling thousands of gallons of oil and alarming observers who have called for stricter safety standards on trains hauling hazardous material. The train is owned by the New Jersey-based Norfolk Sou [...]