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☆ What the proxy fight at Norfolk Southern means for railroad safety
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The fight has split the railroad’s unions, who disagree which management team – the current Norfolk Southern leadership or one proposed by activist investor Ancora Holdings – would be best for safety and the railroad’s employees. Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw, third from left, listens to testimony during a hearing held by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on March 22, 2023 in Washington, DC. The committee heard testimony on "Improving Rail Safety in response to the East Palestine Derailment." BLET said that Orr’s appointment shows that Norfolk Southern is committed to additional use of PSR, no matter which side wins the the proxy fight. On February 3rd, a Norfolk Southern Railways train carrying toxic chemicals derailed causing an environmental disaster.

Persons: Alan Shaw, Amit Bose, Win McNamee, Bose, ”, “, Jeremy Ferguson, Shaw, “ Shaw, Jerry Sturdivant, John Orr, BLET, Michael Swensen, Jim Barber, Glass Lewis, Ancora Organizations: New, New York CNN, Norfolk, Norfolk Southern, Ancora Holdings, PSR, Federal Railroad Administration, Senate Commerce, Science, Transportation, Shaw, SMART, of Locomotive Engineers, Trainmen, NS, Canadian Pacific, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Way Employees, Norfolk Southern Railways, Teamsters, UPS, CSX, Union Pacific Locations: New York, Norfolk Southern, Atlanta, East Palestine , Ohio, Norfolk, East Palestine, Washington ,, Canadian Pacific Kansas, Palestine, ”, NS

☆ U.S. Finalizes Rule Requiring Two-Person Crews on Freight Trains
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Mark Walker | More About Mark Walker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Federal regulations had not previously specified a minimum crew size, but the nation’s largest freight railroads typically have two workers on each train, an engineer and a conductor. The Federal Railroad Administration proposed requiring two-person crews in 2022, arguing that doing so would improve safety. The issue received further attention after a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed last year in East Palestine, Ohio, putting the issue of railroad safety in the spotlight. A bipartisan rail safety bill introduced in Congress in response to the derailment included a requirement for two-person crews, though the legislation has stalled. The Norfolk Southern train, which investigators believe derailed because of an overheated wheel bearing, had three crew members on board: an engineer, a conductor and a conductor trainee.

Organizations: Biden, Federal Railroad Administration, Norfolk, Norfolk Southern Locations: Norfolk Southern, East Palestine , Ohio

☆ New freight crew rule tests rail industry's clout, one year after East Palestine disaster
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Ryan Anastasio | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

One year after the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment created an environmental disaster, the Biden administration on Tuesday unveiled new regulations intended to shore up freight rail safety. Drone footage shows the freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, U.S., February 6, 2023 in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released by the NTSB. Yet the new rule stops short of the kind of rail safety updates that the Biden administration and members of Congress had originally envisioned as a response to the East Palestine disaster. Making any major updates to rail safety will require congressional funding that has not yet been approved. The stalling of the Railway Safety Act also underscores the power of the freight rail industry's Washington lobbying shop, the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, Biden, Vince Verna, Buttigieg Organizations: Federal Railroad Administration, NTSB, Norfolk Southern, Railway, of Locomotive Engineers, Trainmen, Association of American Railroads, CNBC, CSX, Union Pacific, AAR, ARA, Transportation Department Locations: States, United States, Palestine , Ohio, East Palestine , Ohio, U.S, East Palestine, Norfolk, Palestine, Ohio, Washington

(AP) — Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has reiterated his concerns about railroad safety and scolded the industry for not doing more to improve since last year's fiery Ohio derailment. In a new letter to the freight railroads' main trade group, Buttigieg acknowledged that railroads say they are committed to safety. But he said too often regulators encounter resistance when trying to get the industry to do more to improve safety. And he said the Federal Railroad Administration's statistics don't show safety improving significantly over the past decade. But Buttigieg said that with two workers killed last year in rail yard accidents he's still concerned about those incidents.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, Buttigieg, Ian Jefferies, ” Jefferies Organizations: —, Federal Railroad, Association of American Railroads, Railroads, Union Pacific, AAR, BNSF, CSX, Canadian National, Norfolk Southern Locations: OMAHA, Neb, Ohio, Palestine , Ohio, U.S, Nebraska, Norfolk Southern, Norfolk, East Palestine

☆ Norfolk Southern proxy fight draws heavyweight politicians and regulatory scrutiny a year after derailment
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

Norfolk Southern' has underperformed both its peers and the broader market over the last year. Norfolk Southern responded on Monday, rejecting that slate and announcing it would nominate former Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson and former U.S. For Ancora, which has a successful track record as an activist investor, the proxy fight at Norfolk Southern would be its largest ever. EdgePoint controlled 3.4 million Norfolk Southern shares as of Dec. 31, or about 1.5% of shares outstanding. Norfolk Southern has yet to set a date for the annual shareholder meeting.

Persons: Alan Shaw, Norfolk Southern Scott Mlyn, John Kasich, Donald Trump, Ancora, Shaw, Jim Barber, Jamie Boychuk, Richard Anderson, North Dakota Heidi Heitkamp, Heitkamp, Anderson, Frank Blake, Matt Freed, Joe Biden, Biden, Trump, it's, there's, Ancora's, Hunter Harrison, Norfolk Southern, Martin Oberman, Oberman, Amit Bose, Bose, Jim Chadwick, Chadwick, Ancora beneficially, Barber, Boychuk, Harrison, Mandel Ngan, Ancora's Chadwick, Amy Miles, Miles, Claude Mongeau, CNBC's Leslie Picker, Heidi Heitkamp Organizations: Norfolk Southern, CNBC, Norfolk, Ancora Advisors, EdgePoint Investment Group, Republican, Amtrak, Delta Airlines, Cargill, Home Depot, U.S, Energy, Workers, East, Trump, Biden, Southern, PSR, Federal Railroad Administration, Surface Transportation, Federal, UPS, Teamsters, Canadian, . Norfolk Southern, CSX, Deutsche Bank, AFP, Getty Locations: Norfolk Southern, East Palestine , Ohio, Ohio, Norfolk, North Dakota, Medtronic, East Palestine, Cleveland, Ancora

So when Taft accused Truman — not long after his “special” train had stopped in Crestline — of going around the country on this campaign train tour “blackguarding (attacking) Congress at every whistle-stop,” Truman embraced the opportunity. Altogether, Segal has cataloged about 180 campaign train trips throughout U.S. history — from William Henry Harrison to Joe Biden, with dozens of presidents, vice presidents, first ladies, representatives, senators and governors in between. The project was inspired by Segal's personal experience organizing a whistle-stop campaign tour for Republican U.S. Rep. Mickey Edwards of Oklahoma, for whom he was serving as press secretary in 1984. Sometimes campaign trains were used in creative ways, too, as when comedian Gracie Allen pretended to run for president in 1940, as the nation was recovering from the Great Depression. In 1972, Winnie the Pooh launched a bid for the White House from Disneyland's Main Street, U.S.A., then went on a two-week whistle-stop tour with his trusted advisers, Tigger and Eeyore.

Persons: Crestline, Harry S, — Ohio's, Sen, Robert Taft —, Edward Segal's, ” Segal, toots, ”, Taft, Truman —, “, ” Truman, Truman, Segal, William Henry Harrison, Joe Biden, Mickey Edwards of, ‘, ’ ” Segal, George McGovern, Adlai Stevenson III, Jody Powell, —, Robert Kennedy, Richard Nixon, George Bush, Barack Obama, Jack Bell, Theodore Roosevelt's, Roosevelt, Gracie Allen, “ Gracie, Winnie, Tigger, Linda Horning Pitt, Crestline —, Pitt Organizations: Republican, ”, Democratic, Democratic National Committee, Republican U.S . Rep, Technology, Associated Press, Surprise Party, Democrat, White, Amtrak, Ohio, Federal Railroad Administration Locations: CRESTLINE, Ohio, Crestline, ” U.S, Mickey Edwards of Oklahoma, congressman’s, ”, pranksters, Disneyland's, U.S.A

☆ After Years of Delays, Amtrak Moves Toward Faster Trains in the Northeast
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Mark Walker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

After years of delays and safety and design disputes, Amtrak is one step closer to bringing new high-speed trains to the busy Northeast Corridor. Amtrak officials said late Friday that the new trains, which had failed an extended series of computer modeling tests, had passed on the 14th try and had been cleared by the Federal Railroad Administration to begin testing on the tracks that run from Washington, D.C., to Boston. The faster, more spacious trains — sets of locomotives plus passenger cars — come with a price tag of about $1.6 billion and are to replace those in the Acela fleet, which should have been decommissioned at the end of their life cycle in 2016. The sleek new red, white and blue Avelia Liberty trains are to travel at a max speed of about 160 miles per hour because of a limit imposed by the northeast corridor’s aging tracks, 10 miles faster than the current Acela trains, and are expected to tilt for a faster and smoother ride around curves. They accommodate up to 386 passengers, an increase of 25 percent.

Organizations: Amtrak, Federal Railroad Administration, Washington , D.C, Liberty Locations: Washington ,, Boston

As the Nebraska explosion made clear, there can be problems that are hard to spot before potentially disastrous accidents occur. Some details about the explosion might never be known because the shipping container carrying the acid was destroyed. Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena said he understands and welcomes the agency's scrutiny. Vena said Union Pacific and other major railroads have become safer over time. “And that’s what I’m challenging the team with here at Union Pacific is we have to get better ... We’ll invest in it.

Persons: haven’t, ”, Andy Foust, Warren Flatau, Pete Buttigieg, —, Foust, “, hasn’t, Dennis Thompson, Thompson, Jim Vena, Vena, We’ll, Charlie King Organizations: —, Union Pacific, Federal Railroad Administration, . Transportation, Rail, Transportation Workers, Transportation Division, . Railroad, Materials Safety Administration, Norfolk Southern, Platte Fire, Pacific, of Railroad Infrastructure Locations: OMAHA, Neb, Nebraska, North Platte , Nebraska, Omaha, Norfolk, Ohio, railyard, Palestine

☆ Biden is pouring $16 billion into making Amtrak trains faster, easier to get to, and more accessible
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Biden is pouring $16.4 billion into passenger rail in the Northeast Regional corridor. AdvertisementAdvertisementPresident Joe Biden — a known proponent of Amtrak — wants trains to run faster and better. His administration is pouring $16.4 billion from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law into the Northeast Regional corridor to do just that. Meanwhile, 80% of Amtrak trains were on time in 2020 — and that fell to 74% by 2022. "We're all on our way to creating world-class passenger rail that benefits communities nationwide by making our rail systems safer, more efficient, and more convenient," Landrieu said.

Persons: Biden, —, Joe Biden —, Mitch Landrieu, Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Bill Flynn, Marc Molinaro, Landrieu Organizations: Service, Amtrak —, White, Penn, Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, European Union, Northeast Corridor Commission, NEC, Infrastructure Investment, Jobs Act, Republicans, New, New York Republican, Republican Locations: Boston, Washington, Baltimore, New York's, Connecticut, Metro, New York, Bronx, Manhattan, —, Northeast, West, Hudson

An investigation into a Colorado coal train derailment and bridge collapse that killed a truck driver is focused on whether inspection and maintenance practices at BNSF Railway contributed to the accident, federal officials said Thursday. The steel bridge built in 1958 collapsed onto Interstate 25 Oct 15, when a broken rail caused 30 cars from a BNSF Railway train hauling coal to derail, the National Transportation Safety Board said based on preliminary findings. Broken rails and other track problems are a leading cause of derailments, according to federal accident data. Political Cartoons View All 1230 ImagesThe BNSF train was travelling about 32 mph (52 kph) — below the 45 mph (72 kph) limit for the area, the NTSB said. There were more than 12,400 train derailments in the U.S. in the past decade, or more than 1,200 annually, according to Federal Railroad Administration data based on reports submitted by railroads.

Persons: Lafollette Henderson Organizations: BNSF Railway, National Transportation Safety, NTSB, BNSF, Federal Railroad Administration Locations: Colorado, Pueblo, Compton , California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, U.S

(AP) — The automatic braking system railroads were required to install several years ago needs improvement to better prevent collisions, federal safety investigators said in a report Wednesday. The National Transportation Safety Board has said more than 150 train crashes since 1969 could have been prevented by Positive Train Control. The agency had recommended the automatic braking system for years before it was mandated by Congress, which extended the original 2015 deadline twice and gave railroads until the end of 2020 to complete the system. The crash was likely caused by an overheating bearing and isn't one the automatic braking system is designed to prevent. The National Transportation Safety Board said there are several shortcomings of the current railroad braking system that developed partly because the system had to be designed so that every railroad's system would work on another railroad.

Persons: Jessica Kahanek, Federal Railroad Administration didn't, Jennifer Homendy, doesn't Organizations: National Transportation Safety, Federal Railroad Administration, Railroads, National Transportation, Train Control, Congress, of American Railroads, Railroad, Norfolk Southern, National Transportation Safety Board Locations: OMAHA, Neb, California, Norfolk, Ohio

FRA spokesman Warren Flatau said freight railroads weren't addressed because a 2015 law Congress passed only required regulators to establish a rule for passenger railroads. But many freight railroads, including all the biggest ones that handle a majority of shipments nationwide, have installed cameras voluntarily, starting with outward-facing cameras and later adding ones showing the crews' actions. Later, lawmakers also required regulators in the 2015 law to look at requiring locomotive video recorders for passenger trains. Amtrak pledged in 2015 to install cameras on its trains after a crash in Philadelphia that killed eight people and injured about 200. “While video recorders cannot directly prevent accidents, they help maintain a higher standard of safety,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose.

Persons: Warren Flatau, Jennifer Homendy, Homendy, there’s, ” Homendy, ”, Amit Bose Organizations: —, National Transportation Safety, Federal Railroad Administration, Railroad Association, Norfolk Southern, NTSB, Union Pacific, Metrolink, Amtrak Locations: OMAHA, Neb, Ohio, Norfolk, East Palestine, Pennsylvania, Palestine, Chatsworth , California, Chatsworth, Philadelphia

Some railroad unions want more scrutiny of the safety of remote control operations major railroads have used for years in and around railyards without significant problems. Remote control train operators might have only a month or two of training before taking the controls, although the length of training varies by railroad. Safety statistics on railroad crashes are unclear because Federal Railroad Administration reports don't break out those involving remote control trains from incidents involving trains operated by engineers and conductors. Grissom said his union has had three members die in incidents involving remote control trains since 2015. He said Anderson's death, combined with fiery derailments that have happened across the country this year, reinforce the need for stronger railroad safety regulations.

Persons: Don Grissom, Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, ” Grissom, Grissom, hasn't, Fred Anderson, carmen, Anderson, Bryan Tucker, didn't, Eddie Hall Organizations: CSX, Brotherhood of Railway, National Transportation Safety, Federal Railroad Administration, NTSB, of Locomotive Engineers, Railroad Administration, Norfolk Southern Locations: OMAHA, Neb, railyards, Walbridge , Ohio, Jacksonville , Florida, Norfolk, East Palestine, Ohio

☆ US passenger railroad Amtrak high-speed Acela program facing new delays
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An Amtrak Acela train arrives at New York's Penn Station, the nation's busiest train hub, in New York City, U.S., May 25, 2017. The Amtrak inspector general in a report on Tuesday said the program faces further delays because the new Amtrak trains have not met Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requirements and all of the trainsets produced so far have defects. The report added the likeliest cause of more delays would be a lack of a validated trainset model, followed by certain trainset defects. Alstom said it is working with the FRA to meet requirements "through their first-ever safety certification for high-speed trains." Congress approved $66 billion for rail as part of the 2021 infrastructure bill, with Amtrak receiving $22 billion.

Persons: Mike Segar, David Shepardson, Mark Porter, Josie Kao Organizations: Amtrak, Station, REUTERS, Rights, Alstom, Federal Railroad Administration, FRA, Thomson Locations: New, New York City, U.S, Boston, Washington

(AP) — The federal government has joined several former workers in suing Union Pacific over the way it used a vision test to disqualify workers the railroad believed were color blind and might have trouble reading signals telling them to stop a train. Union Pacific didn't immediately respond to questions about the lawsuit Monday. The EEOC said in its lawsuit that the test doesn't replicate real world conditions or show whether workers can accurately identify railroad signals. Some of the workers who sued had failed Union Pacific's “light cannon” test but passed another vision test that has the approval of the Federal Railroad Administration. The workers involved in the lawsuit were doing their jobs successfully for Union Pacific for between two and 30 years.

Persons: ”, Gregory Gochanour, EEOC Organizations: Union Pacific, Pacific, EEOC’s Chicago, Federal Railroad Administration Locations: OMAHA, Neb, Norfolk Southern, Ohio, Pennsylvania, East Palestine, Pacific, Minnesota , Illinois, Arizona , Idaho , California , Kansas , Nebraska , Oregon, Washington, Texas, The Omaha , Nebraska

☆ A worker was killed after being hit by a remote-controlled train in Ohio. Now, unions are calling for change.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A railroad worker is dead after being hit by a remote-controlled train on a CSX railyard in Ohio. This is the third time a railway worker has been killed in an incident involving a remote-controlled train. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the death, which happened shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday in Walbridge, Ohio. AdvertisementAdvertisementTypically, a railroad worker stationed on the ground near a train controls its movements with a remote, although sometimes that worker rides aboard the train while it is moving. Railroad safety has been a key concern nationwide this year ever since a Norfolk Southern train derailed and caught fire in eastern Ohio in February.

Persons: Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, Keith Holloway, Fred Anderson, carman, Artie Maratea, Sheriee Bowman Organizations: CSX, Service, Transportation Communications Union, Brotherhood of Railway, National Transportation Safety, CSX —, Federal Railroad Administration, Railroad Locations: Ohio, Wall, Silicon, Walbridge , Ohio, Jacksonville , Florida, Norfolk Southern

(AP) — Investigators say the blast that prompted evacuations near Union Pacific's massive railyard in western Nebraska last week appears to be accidental, but it's not yet clear what caused it. The chief investigator for the fire marshal’s office, Adam Matzner, said Tuesday that investigators haven’t found any sign of a criminal act connected with the explosion, so the incident appears accidental. A spokesman for the Federal Railroad Administration said Tuesday that he couldn’t provide any additional details about the agency’s investigation. North Platte is located about 230 miles (370 kilometers) east of Denver and about 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Omaha. Union Pacific is one of the nation's largest railroads with more than 32,000 miles (nearly 51,500 kilometers) of track crisscrossing 23 Western states.

Persons: Adam Matzner, haven’t, Kristen South, Pacific's Organizations: —, Nebraska State Fire, Federal Railroad Administration, Union Pacific Locations: OMAHA, Neb, Union, Nebraska, North Platte, Denver, Omaha, The, Ohio, East Palestine , Ohio

A railroad worker died over the weekend after he was struck by a remote-controlled train in a CSX railyard in Ohio, raising concerns among unions about such technology. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the death, which happened shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday in Walbridge, Ohio. The Federal Railroad Administration has approved the use of remote-controlled locomotives since 2005. Typically, a railroad worker stationed on the ground near a train controls its movements with a remote, although sometimes that worker rides aboard the train while it is moving. Railroad safety has been a key concern nationwide this year ever since a Norfolk Southern train derailed and caught fire in eastern Ohio in February.

Persons: Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, Keith Holloway, Fred Anderson, carman, Artie Maratea, ”, Sheriee Bowman Organizations: CSX, Transportation Communications Union, Brotherhood of Railway, National Transportation Safety, CSX —, ” Transportation Communications Union, Federal Railroad Administration, Railroad Locations: Ohio, Walbridge , Ohio, Jacksonville , Florida, Norfolk Southern

(AP) — Nebraska authorities said they don't expect any lingering problems related to Thursday's explosion of a railroad shipping container carrying an acid used to make explosives because the chemical largely burned off and any residue was contained at the scene. No one was injured in the blast at Union Pacific's massive railyard in North Platte, and no structures were damaged. But Thursday's incident in the Union Pacific railyard was nothing like that. He said the other container that burned in the fire likely contained memory foam — not another hazardous chemical. Union Pacific was able to continue operating part of the railyard throughout the incident, and full operations resumed after the fire was extinguished Thursday evening.

Persons: Dennis Thompson, ” Thomson, it's, Thompson, Warren Flatau Organizations: —, Platte Fire, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, Union Pacific, Federal Railroad Administration Locations: OMAHA, Neb, — Nebraska, North Platte, Nebraska, Western Nebraska, Ohio, East Palestine , Ohio, Platte, Denver, Omaha

(AP) — Norfolk Southern's CEO pledged to continue working to improve safety after consultant the railroad hired following the fiery Ohio derailment recommended making sure that safety is truly a priority at all levels and continuing many efforts it has already begun. And that is exactly what we are doing.”A previous report from the Federal Railroad Administration said that Norfolk Southern had too often been content to do only the minimum required to ensure safety. Shaw said this report is just one of the initial steps to improve safety on the railroad and Atkins will continue to recommend improvements over the next couple years. The consultant recommended that the railroad continue to work with labor leaders to find additional ways to improve safety. While working to improve safety, Norfolk Southern also pledged to make improvements to more than 70 of its facilities across 22 states in the eastern United States as part of an effort to improve morale.

Persons: Alan Shaw, Atkins, “, ” Shaw, ”, Shaw, he's Organizations: Norfolk, Atkins Nuclear, Federal Railroad Administration, Southern, Federal Railroad, Norfolk Southern Locations: OMAHA, Neb, East Palestine , Ohio, Pennsylvania, East Palestine, Norfolk Southern, United States

While he's willing to invest in that, mostly he wants to make sure Union Pacific's day-to-day operations are steadily improving. He's also working to speed up decision making at the railroad to help make Union Pacific more responsive to customers. We’re going to have the best service, and we’re going to have the best safety record. That will put pressure on Union Pacific’s profits. Railroad safety has been in the spotlight this year ever since a Norfolk Southern train derailed and caught fire in eastern Ohio back in February.

Persons: Jim Vena, he's, ” Vena, Vena, He's, Lance Fritz, “ We’re, Amit Bose Organizations: —, Pacific's, Union, Canadian National, Union Pacific, Federal Railroad Administration Locations: OMAHA, Neb, Union Pacific, West, Norfolk Southern, Ohio, East Palestine

☆ Railroad operator Norfolk Southern says outage impact to last for weeks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Norfolk Southern train rests near the University of North Carolina's energy generation plant in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S. August 11, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Drake/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 28 (Reuters) - Norfolk Southern (NSC.N) said it has restored all rail systems after the U.S. railroad operator experienced a hardware-related outage that affected its operations earlier on Monday. All systems were restored at 0700 pm ET (11 pm GMT), the company said, adding that it expects the impact on its operations to last at least a couple of weeks. There is no indication that the outage was a cybersecurity incident, Norfolk said, without disclosing further details. The company said it has been in touch with its customers to work on updated timings for their shipments.

Persons: Jonathan Drake, Akanksha, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: University of North, REUTERS, Norfolk Southern, U.S, Transportation, Transportation Department's Federal Railroad Administration, Thomson Locations: Norfolk Southern, Chapel Hill , North Carolina, U.S, Norfolk, Transportation Department's, East Palestine , Ohio, Bengaluru

☆ US agency says Norfolk Southern needs 'significant improvements'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A Norfolk Southern train rests near the University of North Carolina's energy generation plant in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S. August 11, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Drake/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Aug 9 (Reuters) - U.S. railroad regulators on Wednesday said Norfolk Southern needs "significant improvements" in its safety culture after a Feb. 3 derailment in Ohio caused cars carrying toxic vinyl chloride and other dangerous chemicals to spill and catch fire. "We expect Norfolk Southern to do their part, acting on the recommendations in this assessment as well as previous ones to increase safety." Norfolk Southern said CEO Alan Shaw and members of the company’s leadership team met with Bose in Atlanta on Tuesday to review the findings. The report found Norfolk Southern had not moved quickly to embrace findings from the 2022 audit and noted little action in the last 12 months.

Persons: Jonathan Drake, Amit Bose, Alan Shaw, Bose, Shaw, We’re, David Shepardson, Jonathan Oatis, Stephen Coates Organizations: University of North, REUTERS, Norfolk, Transportation, Transportation Department's Federal Railroad Administration, Atlanta, FRA, Southern, Thomson Locations: Norfolk Southern, Chapel Hill , North Carolina, U.S, Ohio, Transportation Department's, Atlanta

☆ US offers mixed review of Norfolk Southern safety culture
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A Norfolk Southern train rests near the University of North Carolina's energy generation plant in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S. August 11, 2022. Inspections in March identified over 100 defects across 95 miles (153 km) of Norfolk Southern territory "and FRA is considering enforcement actions based on those defects. Norfolk Southern said CEO Alan Shaw and members of the company’s leadership team met with FRA Administrator Amit Bose in Atlanta on Tuesday to review the findings. The railroad delivered the report to a consultant conducting an independent review of its safety program. The report found Norfolk Southern had not moved quickly to embrace findings from the 2022 audit and noted little action in the last 12 months.

Persons: Jonathan Drake, Norfolk, Alan Shaw, Amit Bose, Shaw, Bose, We’re, David Shepardson, Chris Reese, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: University of North, REUTERS, Transportation, Transportation Department's Federal Railroad Administration, Southern, Norfolk, FRA, Thomson Locations: Norfolk Southern, Chapel Hill , North Carolina, U.S, East Palestine , Ohio, Transportation Department's, Atlanta

☆ US advances $6.88 billion grant for key New York tunnel project
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, July 6 (Reuters) - The Biden administration advanced a key $6.88 billion grant to help build a long-delayed new railway tunnel between New York City and New Jersey, which would be the largest ever federal transportation grant for a single project. The $17.2 billion Hudson Tunnel Project will repair an existing tunnel and build a new one for passenger railroad Amtrak and state commuter lines between New Jersey and Manhattan. The 112-year-old rail tunnel carries 200,000 passenger trips per day on New Jersey Transit and Amtrak along the Northeast Corridor. In 2010, then-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie pulled state funding for the tunnel project. Amtrak said on Thursday acceptance of the tunnel project into the engineering phase "has been years in the making, and we are thrilled to be even closer to the start of major construction on this critical Gateway Program project."

Persons: Sandy, Chuck Schumer, Cory Booker, Chris Christie, Donald Trump, Schumer, Trump, David Shepardson, Richard Chang Organizations: Biden, Amtrak, Federal Transit, Capital Investment, Gateway Development Commission, Federal Railroad Administration, New Jersey Democratic, New Jersey Transit, Democrats, Thomson Locations: New York City, New Jersey, Manhattan, New York, Washington, New, Jersey, Newark , New Jersey, Boston

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