Transportation News

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Rail unions born to fight discrimination

By John Previsich, Assistant President/General Secretary & Treasurer –  Discipline’s roots in the rail industry reach back nearly 150 years. Following the Civil War, the industry was expanding at a breakneck speed, with Congress and the American public being hornswoggled [...]

AAR issues rail safety alert

The Association of American Railroads has issued a safety alert for all railroads in North America. The safety alert is to advise of the recent discovery of barbed wire found on safety appliances of a multilevel car. This photograph was taken in the Quebec City, Quebec, area [...]

Obama will veto bill limiting NLRB action

The Obama Administration strongly opposes H.R. 1120, which would prohibit members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) duly appointed by the president from taking any action. If the president is presented with legislation that would undermine the functions of the Nati [...]

Annual FSC Rail Golf Classic is May 6

All railroaders and their friends and relatives are invited to participate in the 12th Annual FSC Rail Classic golf tournament at 1 p.m. Monday, May 6, at Sierra Lakes Golf Course in Fontana, Calif., according to Local 240 Chairperson Harry J. Garvin Jr. The cost of the four- [...]

FRA unveils vison for Northeast Corridor

The Federal Railroad Administration is currently managing a comprehensive planning effort to define, evaluate and prioritize future levels of investment in the Northeast Corridor (NEC) through 2040. This effort, launched in February 2012 and called NEC FUTURE, will produce a [...]

Obama budget seeks $40B for passenger rail

The Obama Administration yesterday released its budget request for fiscal year 2014 and the President has once again put forth a plan for transforming and expanding train service in the United States. The president is requesting $40 billion in passenger rail investment over t [...]

Osawatomie’s Railroad Day to honor rails

Osawatomie’s Railroad Day will honor the contributions of current and former employees of Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific railroads in Osawatomie, Kan., April 20. A variety of fun family activities are scheduled at Osawatomie’s Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot Museum, locat [...]

UP engineer rescues puppy tied to tracks

MECCA, Calif. — Last week, a 10-month-old poodle-terrier mix was found tied to the railroad tracks. An engineer spotted an old man walking near the railroad tracks and noticed that the man had left something behind. The engineer was able to stop the train in time using [...]

Amtrak ridership growth continues in 2013

WASHINGTON — Amtrak ridership increased in the first half of fiscal year 2013 (Oct. 2012 – March 2013) and March set a record as the single best month ever in the history of America’s Railroad®. In addition, October, December, and January each set individual month [...]

Disability annuities for railroad employees

The Railroad Retirement Act provides disability annuities for railroaders who become totally or occupationally disabled. Medicare coverage before age 65 is also available for totally disabled employees and those suffering from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or chronic ki [...]