Commentary

Ethics Issues in the Engineering Profession

Engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor, and dignity of the profession by using their knowledge and skills for the enhancement of human welfare, by being honest and impartial, by serving with fidelity to public, their employers and clients, by striving to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering profession, and by supporting the professional and technical societies of their disciplines.

Wells Fargo Rail, New York & Atlantic on the Violet Edge

Car and locomotive lessor Wells Fargo Rail and Anacostia Rail Holdings Class III property New York & Atlantic Railway have ordered Wi-Tronix Violet Edge onboard technology, which includes Connected Event Recorder, PTC Event Recorder and Digital Video Recorder (DVR), all based on a robust Internet of Things (IoT) platform designed specifically for the rail industry. “Advanced technology enables remote access to synchronized information, in addition to a suite of analytic tools and actionable alerts that make rail operations safer,” Wi-Tronix noted.

Commentary

The march to one-person crews continues …

If one looks at recent developments, the Federal Railroad Administration’s withdrawal of the two-person-crew-minimum NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking), it may seem “logical” to say the march toward one-person crews is accelerating. However, that may be an illusion.

FRA reports “significant progress” on PTC

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) First Quarter 2019 Positive Train Control Progress Report shows “significant progress” toward full implementation on required rights-of-way, which must be completed by Dec. 31, 2020.

WSDOT to retire Talgo trainsets

In the wake of the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report on the 2017 Amtrak Cascades train 501 wreck on the Point Defiance bypass near DuPont, Wash., that killed three and injured 57, WSDOT (Washington State DOT) said it “will work with Amtrak to follow the NTSB recommendation to remove the [Cascades service] Talgo Series 6 trainsets from service as soon as possible.”

FRA cancels crew-size NPRM

Citing that “no regulation of train crew staffing is necessary or appropriate for railroad operations to be conducted safely at this time,” the Federal Railroad Administration on May 23 cancelled its April 2014 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to mandate a minimum of two crew members on every freight train. Additionally, FRA is preempting—under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, which gives the federal government dominion over interstate commerce—all state laws mandating crew size within state borders.

Commentary

Rail labor may rue its crew-size strategy

News item: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced May 23 that it is cancelling an April 2014 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to mandate a minimum of two crewmembers on every freight train. Additionally, the agency is preempting, as it may under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution giving the federal government dominion over interstate commerce, all state laws mandating crew size within state borders.

From Penn State Altoona, a new generation of railroaders

In its eighth year, Penn State Altoona’s bachelor of science degree program in Rail Transportation Engineering (RTE) remains the only one of its kind in the country. Having met the standards set by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) in goals, objectives and educational outcomes, students graduating from this program are prepared and eligible to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, the first step toward becoming a licensed professional engineer.

Wi-Tronix Violet installations, orders top 2,000

Wi-Tronix, LLC has reached a milestone of more than 2,000 of its Violet Edge locomotive event recorders ordered or installed industry-wide.

NS: A multiple-record first quarter

Norfolk Southern (NS) continued its upward trend and posted record railway operating revenues, operating income, operating ratio, net income and earnings per share in first-quarter 2019.

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