Transportation News

Visit the digital archive of the SMART-TD News (PDFs)

GA-46000 lifetime maximum adjusted for 2017

The lifetime maximum benefit for the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit (ERMA or GA-46000) Plan will increase from $151,600 to $157,800 beginning Jan. 1, 2017. At the end of 2001, Labor and Management had agreed on various procedures to adminis [...]

Two CSX trains collide in Florida

Two CSX trains collided in Marion County, Fla. in the early hours of Wednesday, Nov. 16, causing approximately 20 train cars to derail. Two members of the train crews were treated for injuries and released without hospitalization. An estimated 15,000 gallons of fuel was spill [...]

Risch op-ed: Use rail, not Dakota Pipeline

In an op-ed piece recently published in thedickinsonpress.com, John Risch,  native North Dakotan and freight rail operator for more than thirty years, makes the case that the Dakota Access Pipeline is not needed to transport crude oil, as freight rail infrastructure is alread [...]

VSTD benefits increase for bus and rail members

The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the following changes to the Voluntary Short Term Disability (VSTD) plans for bus and rail members, effective January 1, 2017:   VSTD changes for bus members For Bus Members, the maximum weekly VSTD benefit will increase from [...]

Know the facts before you vote

By John Previsich, President, SMART Transportation Division It is said that two things to never discuss at a family gathering are religion and politics and for the most part that is very good advice. But I’m going to break that rule here–I view my brothers and sisters in the [...]

NLRB: Trump violating federal labor laws

The National Labor Relation Board just ruled that Trump’s refusal to bargain with the 500+ unionized employees at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas is in violation of federal labor laws.  Read the complete article here.            

Mo. survey shows passenger rail, rail safety are a priority for voters

The SMART Transportation Division Missouri State Legislative Board released the results of a survey showing that 76 percent of Missouri residents support continual funding of Amtrak. The survey also shows that Missourians support two-person crews. The survey was conducted by [...]

Canadian safety board addresses train crew fatigue

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), put train crew fatigue on its 2016 watch list. The list identifies key safety issues in Canadian transportation. TSB Chairperson Kathy Fox told Reuters that the board would push for concrete action, including the creation of pr [...]

Back to basics

By John Lesniewski, Vice President, SMART Transportation Division In the July/August edition of the SMART Transportation Division News, both SMART General President Joseph Sellers and SMART Transportation Division President John Previsich wrote extensively about the importanc [...]

FRA investigates conductor death in Miss.

Christopher Ross Hubbard, age 36,  died on Sunday morning, October 30, during an accident that occurred as he and the engineer were performing a routine track switch near the town of Artesia, Miss.  Hubbard, from Cottondale, Ala.,  was a conductor on the Alabama Southern trai [...]