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The collision of three Norfolk Southern trains in Pennsylvania early this month highlights the shortcomings of the automated braking system that was created to prevent such crashes. Not only was the system incapable of stopping the second train before it smashed into the back of a stopped train, but it also couldn't stop the third train. Congress required railroads to develop the positive train control system after a deadly 2008 collision between a Metrolink commuter train and a Union Pacific freight train in Chatsworth, California. Norfolk Southern's safety practices have been in the spotlight since one of its trains derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023. The report also didn't say whether there were any curves or hills that made it hard for the crew to see the stopped train.

Persons: Chris Barkan, Keith Holloway Organizations: Norfolk Southern, National Transportation Safety, “ PTC, Union Pacific, Metrolink, NTSB, Rail Transportation, Engineering Center, University of Illinois Locations: Pennsylvania, Chatsworth , California, Lower Saucon Township, Lehigh, Atlanta, Norfolk, East Palestine , Ohio, Urbana, Champaign

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

☆ A ship operator took texting on the job to a whole new level when he caused 2 ships to crash, racking up $12 million in damages
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Aditi Bharade | Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A ship operator was distracted on his phone while on lookout, causing his ship to crash into another. A ship operator, distracted from his lookout while texting on his phone, caused his ship to crash into another, resulting in damages of over $12 million to both ships. And it was all because of a distracted ship operator, a report by the National Transportation Safety Board revealed on May 22. Minutes before the crash, the operator on watch was using his cell phone to make a "personal call," the report stated. The Federal Railroad Administration in 2011 banned all train operators from using mobile phones while working.

Persons: Thunder Organizations: National Transportation Safety, Morning, Thunder, National Transportation, NTSB, Reuters, Federal Railroad Administration, US Coast Guard, Coast Guard Locations: Louisiana, Gulf of Mexico, California, Chesapeake Bay

☆ Union Pacific CEO called to hearing in Washington as risk of rail strike rises
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Surface and Transportation Board is calling Union Pacific management including CEO Lance Fritz to appear at hearings December 13-14 about the freight railroad's use of embargoes. UP carries nearly 27 percent of freight served by rail and nearly 11 percent of all long-distance freight volume. The risk of a nationwide freight rail strike in December has been rising. We have quality of life issues," said Jeremy Ferguson, president of SMART-TD, which on Monday voted to reject the labor deal, with a rail strike now potentially starting as soon as Dec. 9. Ferguson, similar to fellow union president Dennis Pierce of BLET, referenced a recent CNBC interview with Fritz, during which the Union Pacific CEO laughed when asked about the risk of a rail strike.

☆ U.S. Chamber urges Congress to avert rail strike, extend Boeing 737 MAX deadline
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Bing Guan/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday urged Congress to take action on a number of issues before ending work for the year, including preventing a potential rail strike and extending a deadline for the Boeing (BA.N) 737 MAX 7 and 10 to get certified. The largest U.S. business group noted that three rail unions have rejected a rail contract. "A rail strike would be catastrophic for our economy, costing $2 billion per day and imposing enormous challenges to businesses, local communities, and commuters," the Chamber letter said. The Chamber also backed Boeing efforts to seek a waiver of a December deadline imposing a new safety standard for modern cockpit alerts for the MAX 7 and MAX 10. Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Key freight rail union BMWED extends deadline for strike that threatens U.S. economy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division, the third largest rail union in the country, is extending its status quo period (no strike, no lockout) during which it wants to continue negotiations with the freight rail carriers. Meanwhile, two major rail unions are set to vote on ratifying the deal on Nov. 21: The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and the Smart Transportation Division. The rail industry has previously estimated the cost to the economy of a rail strike at $2 billion per day. The BMWED was the first rail union to vote against ratification of a labor agreement negotiated in conjunction with Biden's PEB. All 12 labor unions must ratify a labor agreement to avoid the potential for a nationwide rail shutdown.

☆ Second railroad union votes down deal needed to avert nationwide strike
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen is the second union to vote down the tentative agreement between rail unions, freight rail companies and the Biden administration that was reached on September 15 and critical to avoiding a nationwide rail strike. "For the first time that I can remember, the BRS members voted not to ratify a National Agreement, and with the highest participation rate in BRS history," said BRS president Michael Baldwin in a statement. The NCCC and PEB also both failed to recognize the safety-sensitive and highly stressful job BRS members perform each day to keep the railroad running and supply chain flowing." The rejection of the National Tentative Agreement begins a "status quo" period during which the union will reengage with the NCCC until December 4. The railroads have estimated that a rail strike could cost the economy $2 billion per day.

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