Transportation News

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Amtrak announces Train Days tour, exhibit locations

WASHINGTON – Amtrak is partnering with NOOK by Barnes & Noble, Chuggington and others at select Amtrak Train Days (ATD) events taking place across the country this spring, summer and fall. These celebrations are occurring in more than 20 locations with the official kick-o [...]

FBI offers new reward in Sunset Limited derailment

The FBI on Friday will offer a new reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for a train derailment caused by an act sabotage in Arizona – nearly 20 years after it occurred. The FBI did not say why the new reward is being offered now to find whoeve [...]

NTSB issues urgent call for improved rail tank cars

The National Transportation Safety Board April 6 issued four urgent recommendations calling for more robust and fire-resistant rail cars to be produced to safely carry flammable liquids such as crude oil and ethanol. In its recommendations, the Board calls for an aggressive s [...]

Amtrak’s Hoosier State line appears back on track

The uncertain path of Amtrak’s Hoosier State line took another curve Monday when state officials said they are close to a deal to keep it running for the long term. The Indiana Department of Transportation said it has reached an “understanding” with federal railway officials [...]

SMART Day at the Races: To Win or Place, You Have to Show

The fifth annual SMART Day at the Races will be held at Fonner Park Race Track in Grand Island, Neb., Friday, April 17, at 3 p.m., Union Pacific General Committee of Adjustment GO 953 reports. In previous years, attendees included members from a number of locals in Kansas, Il [...]

Colo. Southwest Chief funding in jeopardy

Funding to save the Southwest Chief did not make it into the budget proposed by the Colorado legislature this week, Colorado State Legislative Director Carl Smith reports. “We must now seek support from Gov. Hickenlooper and the Joint Budget Committee, which will review [...]

CN/GTW members ratify retroactive agreement

SMART Transportation Division-represented conductors and trainmen employed by the Canadian National/Grand Trunk Western Railroad unanimously ratified a new six-year agreement March 17, Vice President Doyle Turner reports. The agreement provides for six annual wage increases r [...]

Kansas City school bus operators, monitors get deal

The school bus operators and monitors of Local 1704 at Kansas City, Mo., have obtained a first contract with First Student, Inc., the operator of school bus service for the city’s school district. This is their first agreement under SMART Transportation Division representatio [...]

Foxx sends six-year transportation bill to Congress

WASHINGTON – Over the past year, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has visited more than 100 communities and heard one common story – shared by all – about crumbling infrastructure and dwindling resources to fix it with. Secretary Foxx March 30 sent to Congress his s [...]

Former UTUIA Field Supervisor Tom Anziano dies

Retired former United Transportation Union Insurance Association Field Supervisor Thomas R. Anziano Jr., 73, of Local 1373 at Philadelphia, died Mar. 26 after an extended battle with cancer. Anziano began his railroad career with CSX Transportation and worked as a conductor a [...]