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☆ Another cultish cost-saving formula gets off-track
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Jeffrey Goldfarb | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Despite its multiple interpretations and approaches, success is widely gauged by a railway’s operating ratio, a simple measure of how much it spends to make a buck. Union Pacific’s peers improved similarly, indicative of the antiquated ways the industry had been deploying resources. Union Pacific also found itself unable to bring back enough furloughed workers in areas where they were most needed. “In a significant departure from the railroad industry's recent past, we deliberately moved away from a singular focus on operating ratio,” he told lawmakers. “If we wanted to drive [operating ratio] lower over time, we could,” the board wrote in a letter to shareholders in late 2021.

☆ U.S. urges rail tank car owners, shippers to use safer, newer cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Transportation Department (USDOT) on Wednesday urged rail tank car owners and hazmat shippers of flammable liquids to stop using tank cars like some in a Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern (NSC.N) train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio and replace them with newer, safer tank cars. Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw said at a Senate Commerce hearing on Wednesday the railroad supports the provision "for accelerating safer tank car standards". Last month, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called on Congress to mandate owners of tank cars to expedite the phase-in of safer DOT-117 tank cars in advance of the congressionally mandated 2029 deadline. The PHMSA advisory calls on shippers of flammable liquids "to voluntarily upgrade their tank car fleets to the newest, and safest, available tank car design authorized for flammable liquid service." The advisory added railroads should consider applyingrequirements applicable to high-hazard flammable trains to trains with fewer tank cars carrying flammable liquids in DOT-111 tank cars.

☆ NHL roundup: Alex Ovechkin hits 40 goals for record 13th time
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY SportsMarch 22 - On a night he was honored for passing one NHL legend, Washington's Alex Ovechkin made history by eclipsing another. Before the game, Ovechkin was honored in a 20-minute on-ice ceremony for passing Gordie Howe for second place on the all-time NHL goals list on Dec. 23. On Tuesday, Ovechkin scored his 40th goal of the season, passing Wayne Gretzky for the most 40-goal seasons in NHL history with his 13th. Barrett Hayton scored the lone goal for Arizona (27-33-11, 65 points), which saw its four-game winning streak come to an end. Alex Chiasson and Filip Zadina scored regulation goals for the Red Wings, who earned just their third victory in their last 13 games.

☆ Norfolk Southern CEO says he supports parts of new rail safety bills
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw on Wednesday told senators that his railroad company supports parts of two bipartisan rail safety bills that came in the wake of a derailment last month of a train carrying toxic materials in Ohio. Shaw did not fully endorse the Railway Safety Act, which includes provisions calling for two-person crews on all railroad locomotives. "We're not aware of any data that links crew size with safety," Shaw said Wednesday. "There are significant opportunities for advanced technology to enhance rail safety, and we encourage Congress to consider additional research into on-board rail car defect detection technology." Ohio sued Norfolk Southern last week, seeking damages, civil penalties and a "declaratory judgement that Norfolk Southern is responsible," Attorney General Dave Yost said.

☆ Norfolk Southern CEO told that railroads' planned voluntary safety improvements aren't enough
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw returns to Capitol Hill Wednesday facing pressure to support rail safety legislation proposed in the wake of his railroad’s massive toxic spill from a February 3 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. “We support legislative efforts to enhance the safety of the freight rail industry,” was the only discussion of the legislation in his prepared remarks. Shaw said the railroad would support increasing fines and penalties for people found tampering with railroad facilities and safety equipment, without endorsing proposals for potential fines on railroads found guilty of safety violations. They said residents who live near freight rail tracks can’t depend on the railroad’s voluntary measures to improve safety. Vance said it is important to raise the maximum fine for rail safety violations from the current limit of $225,455.

☆ Senate GOP populists push Republican colleagues to back railway regulations, arguing 'their voters' are the most affected by disasters
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Vance, Hawley, and Rubio are touting a bill to enact new regulations on the rail industry. They're trying out a new argument for their Republican colleagues: these are your voters. Josh Hawley of Missouri, and Marco Rubio of Florida, are touting the Railway Safety Act of 2023. "When derailments occur, it is predominantly Republican voters—their voters—who bear the brunt and who rush to put out the fires." "Look, I think if the vote were held today, we'd get 65 votes in the Senate," he told Insider.

☆ Fleetcor Strikes Board Agreement With Activist Shareholder D. E. Shaw
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Lauren Thomas | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Fleetcor Technologies is considering a breakup of its business. Payments company Fleetcor Technologies Inc. has struck an agreement with activist shareholder D. E. Shaw Group to refresh its board and consider separating parts of its business. As part of the agreement unveiled Monday, Fleetcor has appointed Rahul Gupta, the former chief executive of healthcare-billing and payments company RevSpring Inc., to its board, as well as another mutually agreed-upon director.

Virgin Money (VMUK.L), Britain's sixth largest bank, said in a statement it had also seen "net business deposit inflows in recent days". That means SVB UK's customer deposits are safe and their loans supported, HSBC's top bosses have said. Franklin told Reuters a number of CEOs and startup execs had started researching other banks with which to park cash in addition to SVB UK this week, citing Barclays as a favourite among some. But the collapse of SVB has intensified scrutiny of the business models of all lenders, including specialists with smaller balance sheets to fall back on. "The UK banking system remains safe and continues to operate as normal."

☆ Disappointing photos show what it's like to spend St. Patrick's Day in New York City
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Gabbi Shaw | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

The St. Patrick's Day Parade is held every year on New York City's Fifth Avenue. A marching band participates in the annual St. Patrick's Day parade along Fifth Avenue on March 17, 2018. Stephanie Keith/Getty ImagesThe St. Patrick's Day Parade has been held in New York City almost every year since 1762, making it the oldest and largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the world. According to the organizers, around 150,000 people march every year, and the parade attracts 2 million spectators. It's held on March 17 every year unless that date falls on a Sunday; in that case, it's held on Saturday, March 16, which it does in 2024.

Persons: Patrick's, Stephanie Keith, It's, it's Organizations: New York Locations: New, St, New York City

☆ EPA tells states not to block hazardous waste shipments from Ohio derailment
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 17 (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday he was notifying states they cannot block shipments of hazardous waste from a Feb. 3 Ohio train derailment to licensed disposal sites. A Norfolk Southern (NSC.N) operated train in East Palestine, Ohio derailed carrying hazardous materials. EPA Administrator Michael Regan said "any attempts to impede interstate shipments of hazardous waste threatens the integrity of the system." "EPA will take all actions to ensure the safe hazardous waste handing continues across this country," he told reporters. On Tuesday, the state of Ohio sued Norfolk Southern over the derailment that released over a million gallons of hazardous materials and pollutants.

☆ Norfolk Southern shareholders sue over Ohio derailment
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 17 (Reuters) - Norfolk Southern Corp (NSC.N) shareholders have accused the railroad of defrauding them by prioritizing profit over safety prior to last month's derailment of a train carrying hazardous chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio. A Norfolk Southern spokesman declined to comment, saying the Atlanta-based company does not discuss pending litigation. Norfolk Southern has faced many lawsuits over the Feb. 3 derailment, including cases brought by local residents and Ohio's attorney general. Six of the seven largest U.S. freight railroads use Precision Scheduled Railroading: Norfolk Southern, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, CSX, Kansas City Southern and Union Pacific. The case is Bucks County Employees Retirement System v Norfolk Southern Corp et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, No.

☆ Schumer pushes National Transportation Safety Board to expand rail safety probe beyond Norfolk Southern
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Wednesday urged the National Transportation Safety Board to broaden its rail safety investigation beyond Norfolk Southern to other large rail companies after last month's derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Hours before Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw appeared at a congressional hearing last week about the Ohio derailment, another of the company's trains derailed in Calhoun County, Alabama. It was the third derailment involving Norfolk Southern since last month. They can tell us how many fatalities there were — 2,768 — but not why or if company policies could have prevented them." The Ohio Attorney General's office on Tuesday sued Norfolk Southern in federal court, alleging it was negligent for causing the derailment.

☆ U.S. Senate leader Schumer urges federal safety probe into all major freight railroads
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday urged the National Transportation Safety Board to launch an investigation into safety practices of all seven major freight railroads, following the East Palestine, Ohio derailment. The companies, in addition to Norfolk Southern, are BNSF Railway, CSX, Union Pacific, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, and Kansas City Southern, Schumer said in a letter to the agency. On Feb. 3, a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, resulting in the release of over 1 million gallons of harmful pollutants. "Norfolk Southern isn't the only rail company that has spent years lobbying to loosen regulations, neglect safety upgrades and lay off workers," Schumer said. Last week, Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw testified to a Senate hearing and is set to appear at another March 22 rail safety Senate hearing.

☆ Norfolk Southern reaches new paid sick leave deal as it contends with derailment fallout
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Norfolk Southern said Wednesday it agreed to provide up to seven paid sick days per years for members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and Blacksmiths. The deal provides Norfolk Southern's mechanical railroaders with four paid sick days per year, in addition to three existing days of paid time off that can now be used as sick days. The IBBB is now the ninth of Norfolk Southern's 12 unions that have negotiated paid sick days, benefitting about 6,000 workers. The move comes after months of fighting between unions and railraods – including Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific and BNSF – over paid sick leave. The legislation, however, did not include paid sick leave.

REUTERS/Gaelen MorseCompanies Norfolk Southern Corp FollowMarch 14 (Reuters) - The state of Ohio sued Norfolk Southern (NSC.N) Tuesday over the Feb. 3 derailment of a freight train that released over a million gallons of hazardous materials and pollutants into the environment around the town of East Palestine. Since the Ohio derailment caused cars carrying toxic vinyl chloride and other hazardous chemicals to spill and catch fire, Norfolk Southern has been under pressure over a number of train derailments. Last week, Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw was sharply questioned at a U.S. Senate hearing and will appear at another March 22 rail safety Senate hearing. Those suits claim Norfolk Southern was negligent and has created a nuisance for residents, among other claims for liability. Last week, Norfolk Southern agreed to create a new first responders training center and expand a training program in Ohio.

Then came the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train on February 3, releasing toxic chemicals into the air and nearby water, and he fears crashing the value of his home. There are too many unknowns.”Stewart, 65, recently voiced his fury and sadness about what he lost to Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw on a February 22 Town Hall about the derailment on CNN. Homeowners are worried that in addition to any health risks from the chemical release, the derailment has greatly diminished the value of their homes. I think they’re going to be in the crosshairs of the accountants of Norfolk Southern saying ‘We’re not going to pay full compensation.’”Norfolk can afford to compensate homeownersPaying the homeowners and businesses wouldn’t necessarily be difficult for Norfolk Southern. Those values are only a fraction of the money that Norfolk Southern earns.

☆ US railroad group warns carriers to stop using cars with loose wheels
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - A group representing major U.S. railroads on Thursday warned carriers to stop using rail cars with loose wheels until those wheel sets can be replaced. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) said Norfolk Southern (NSC.N) had identified loose wheels on a series of cars that present an increased risk of an out of gage derailment. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it was looking at the role of the loose wheels in recent derailments and praised the industry action. Norfolk Southern had 517 railcars in use with the wheels at issue, she added. Norfolk Southern did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

☆ SVB Financial issues are unlikely to spread to other banks, Wall Street analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Jesse Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The capital issues at SVB Financial sparked a sell-off among bank stocks on Thursday, but the tech-focused bank's woes will likely not be a preview of wider issues in the banking system, according to Wall Street analysts. KBWB 5D mountain Bank stocks fell sharply on Thursday. Morgan Stanley analysts Manan Gosalia and Betsy Graseck echoed that sentiment, saying in a note that the issues at hand appeared to specific to SVB. "Current pressures facing SIVB are highly idiosyncratic and should not be viewed as a read-across to other banks we cover. RBC analyst Gerard Cassidy said that banks without large retail customer bases could be in for a rocky period.

☆ Norfolk Southern CEO to Pledge Change at Senate Hearing on Ohio Train Derailment
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Costas Paris | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Norfolk Southern Corp. will spend more than $20 million to reimburse residents and clean up a small town in Ohio where one of its trains derailed and spilled toxic chemicals last month, the chief executive of the company plans to tell a Senate committee on Thursday. “I am deeply sorry for the impact this derailment has had on the people of East Palestine and surrounding communities, and I am determined to make it right,” Norfolk Southern Chief Alan Shaw said in prepared remarks to the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee.

☆ Wells Fargo says buy Signature Bank, the 'last game in Crypto-town'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

With the demise of Silvergate Bank, investors should turn their attention to New York-based Signature Bank ( SBNY ), which has a big opportunity to pick up business from the crypto market, according to Wells Fargo. Late Wednesday, Silvergate Capital said it would shut down Silvergate Bank, which had become the go-to bank for crypto businesses in the past few years as larger banks steered clear. Businesses still have Signature Bank, however. "Signature [is the] last game in crypto-town," said Wells Fargo equity analyst Jared Shaw, adding, "It's the only larger bank remaining with a functional on-ramp for institutional crypto investors. Wells Fargo has an overweight rating on Signature with a $185 price target, implying almost 95% upside from where shares traded Thursday afternoon.

☆ Norfolk Southern CEO to tell senators how he plans to 'make it right' after Ohio derailment
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

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. Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw will tell a U.S. Senate panel Thursday how he plans to "make it right" after one of the company's trains derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, last month. Other committees in Congress are also investigating the East Palestine derailment. On Saturday, another Norfolk Southern train derailed in Ohio, after which residents near Springfield were ordered to shelter in place. Hours after that derailment, internal emails obtained by CNBC indicated that Norfolk Southern was making broad safety adjustments to prevent future incidents.

☆ Liquidity concerns are putting pressure on banks right now, says Wells Fargo's Jared Shaw
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailLiquidity concerns are putting pressure on banks right now, says Wells Fargo's Jared ShawJared Shaw, Wells Fargo equity analyst, joins 'The Exchange' to discuss the impact of Fed rate hikes on the financial sector.

☆ US safety board opens probe into Norfolk Southern after derailments
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Norfolk Southern has been under fire after several derailments of its trains, particularly one on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio that caused cars carrying toxic vinyl chloride and other hazardous chemicals to spill and catch fire. Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw is scheduled to testify on Thursday before a Senate committee on the East Palestine derailment. Since December 2021, NTSB has launched investigation teams to five significant accidents involving Norfolk Southern including a March 4 derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed near Springfield, Ohio. As part of the special investigation, the NTSB will also review a October 2022 Norfolk Southern derailment in Sandusky, Ohio. "The continued safe operations of Norfolk Southern is vital to the United States.

☆ NTSB opens special investigation into Norfolk Southern safety practices
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday said it opened a special investigation into Norfolk Southern after recent derailments. Norfolk Southern didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on the NTSB probe. "When we walk out of there, I want to make sure that Norfolk Southern is doing what they need to do to make this right. On Saturday, another Norfolk Southern train derailed near Springfield, Ohio. The NTSB has launched investigations into five accidents involving Norfolk Southern, including the death of a Norfolk Southern conductor Tuesday morning in Cleveland after a dump truck collided with a train at a steel facility.

☆ How We the People Built American English
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Ilan Stavans | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Other ingredients are also required: a territory, a flag, a government, a currency, a postal service and so on. Of course, new languages don’t emerge from a vacuum. They evolve slowly from other languages, acquiring their own character only after a long process of decantation. George Bernard Shaw once purportedly said that England and the U.S. are separated by a common language. That separation is what American English has achieved, not without pain, over a period spanning more than four centuries.

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