Transportation News

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Passage cleared for taller trains

The first phase of CSX Transportation’s National Gateway project, which will allow trains carrying maximum-sized freight containers stacked two-high to travel between Ohio and East Coast ports, has been completed on time and within budget, the railroad said. The project [...]

TTD seeks to strengthen ‘Buy America’ policy

WASHINGTON – The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) Sept. 6 endorsed certain changes by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to Buy America policy that will lead to job creation and stronger transportation and manufacturing sectors. “TTD and our affiliated u [...]

MM&A seeks financing for 2-person crews

PORTLAND, Maine – A bankrupt railroad whose runaway train sparked a fire and explosion that killed 47 people in Quebec is seeking financing to use two-person train crews in the U.S., a company trustee said. The move to beef up the crews comes after criticism of Montreal, Main [...]

‘Chaplain’ quizzes mom of boy who lost feet to train

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Marshawn Robinson is waiting for a pair of prosthetic feet after his were severed by a freight train in St. Paul just a few weeks ago, but his recovery was interrupted with what his family describes as a “strange visitor.” The 9-year-old spent ni [...]

Bay area rails to host 6th annual reunion lunch

Retired conductor John Herrmann of Local 694 invites all active and retired railroaders in the San Francisco Bay area to the sixth annual lunch and reunion from 1-5 p.m. on Oct. 26 at Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto, 1919 Fourth St. in Berkeley, Calif. The cost of lunch, dessert, [...]

Unsafe rail cars carry oil through U.S. towns

The number of freight trains carrying oil across America has soared in the past five years, but federal officials warn that the massive steel tank cars that carry most of that oil through towns and past schools – the same cars that exploded in Quebec this summer, killing 47 – [...]

UP unveils streamlined railroad car

Omaha, Neb.-based Union Pacific Railroad, which has significant operations in Roseville, is launching drag-reducing freight train technology not too far removed from the aerodynamic designs used by open-wheel race cars. It’s called Arrowedge, and it will be showing up this mo [...]

MM&A could be sold by year’s end

PORTLAND, Maine – The bankrupt railroad whose runaway train sparked a fire and explosion that killed 47 people in Quebec could be sold by year’s end, the company’s trustee said Thursday. Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway has made no secret that its sale will [...]

Great Lakes plane has landing gear failure

TELLURIDE, Colo. – A small passenger airplane skidded to a halt on the Telluride Regional Airport runway on Sunday afternoon after part of its landing gear failed, but no injuries were reported. The Great Lakes Airlines two-engine Beechcraft 1900 was flying in from Denver wit [...]

Pan Am Railways violated whistleblower rights

BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has ordered Pan Am Railways Inc. to pay $50,000 in compensatory and punitive damages, as well as take corrective action, on behalf of an injured worker. The North Billerica-based commercial railroad adversely charged the worker with lying [...]