Transportation News

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

CP withdraws NS merger bid

SMART TD President Previsich came out against the merger in a letter addressed to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in January of this year. “We strongly opposed the merger when it became clear that CP’s takeover of NS would cost U.S. jobs as well as have a negative impa [...]

Amtrak, BNSF sue feed company after derailment

On Friday, April 8, Amtrak filed a lawsuit against Cimarron Crossing Feeders, LLC, claiming “gross negligence” as the alleged cause of a derailment last month that left 32 passengers injured. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found in their investiga [...]

TTD endorses better oversight of curbside bus operators

In a letter to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), endorsed better oversight of curbside bus operators. In there letter, the TTD says “the passenger bus sector must be held to one standard of safe [...]

TTD: increase oversight for “curbside bus drivers”

In a written response to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Request for Comments entitled  “Motor Carriers of Passengers That Serve Primarily Urban Areas With High Passenger Loads,” dated April 11, 2016, the Transportation Trades Divis [...]

FRA orders Amtrak to retrain workers in wake of crash

The Associated Press reports that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has ordered Amtrak to retrain employees on basic safety rules after an Amtrak train slammed into a backhoe last week, killing two maintenance-of-way (MOW) employees and injuring dozens of passengers. [...]

TTD urges federal protection of airline workers

Edward Wytkind, president of TTD, AFL-CIO, submitted a letter to the U.S. Senate, urging them to support the Cantwell Amendment. “This amendment expands the current law that protects airport security personnel from assaults to also protect airline customer service repre [...]

Minn. SLD Qualy, “CP fatalities preventable”

Fox 9 reports that a fatality that occurred last week during a crew change on Canadian Pacific may have been preventable. In an interview with the news channel, Minnesota State Legislative Director Phil Qualy said that CP could have taken action to move the crew changes to a [...]

Amtrak crash in Pa., two dead, many injured

Amtrak train 89 struck a backhoe this morning in Chester, Pa., just south of Philadelphia. Of the 341 passengers on board around 35 were injured. The two that died were the backhoe operator and a supervisor. Family members of those on board can call 800-523-9101 to inquire ab [...]