NTSB Opens Public Docket for Ongoing Investigation of Fatal UP Collision (Updated with Commentary)

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened a public docket for its ongoing investigation of the Sept. 8, 2022 accident near Imperial County, Calif., involving a Union Pacific (UP) freight train

Parallel Systems plans to start “platoon demonstrations” of second-generation autonomous battery-electric railcars later this year. According to the company, each railcar is individually powered and can “form platoons of up to 50 cars to reduce energy consumption and efficiently use rail network capacity” or split off to multiple destinations while en route. (Rendering Courtesy of Parallel Systems)

Watch: Parallel Systems Debuts 2nd-Gen Autonomous Battery-Electric Freight Car

Los Angeles, Calif.-based Parallel Systems on Sept. 12 introduced its second-generation autonomous battery-electric freight car, which it plans to pilot test on existing U.S. and international rail networks.

Thomas Clark, President, Chicago Freight Car/CF Rail Services

Sasser Names Clark President of Chicago Freight Car and CF Rail Services

Sasser Family Companies on Sept. 11 announced that it has named Thomas Clark as company President of its Rail division, which includes Chicago Freight Car and CF Rail Services. Clark will report

FRA Issues Safety Bulletin Following Switching Accident

Following a Sept. 1 switching accident, which resulted in the amputation of a crew member’s leg, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a safety bulletin to “remind railroads of the importance of ensuring switching operations are conducted safely.”

CN, NS Announce New Domestic Intermodal Service

CN and Norfolk Southern (NS) on Sept. 11 announced a new domestic intermodal service linking CN-served Canadian markets with NS-served Kansas City and Atlanta, “the heart of the fast-growing manufacturing and consumer base in the Southeastern U.S.”

Class I Briefs: UP, CPKC

Union Pacific (UP) ranks seventh on the inaugural Global Top 200 Inspiring Workplaces list. Also, the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) International Grand Prix raises more than $90,000 for the Libin Cardiovascular Institute.

(G&W Photograph)

BLET Members Voting on Two New G&W Contracts

Contract ratification votes are under way for Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) members at Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (M&NA) and Portland & Western Railroad (PNWR), both of which are Genesee & Wyoming (G&W) subsidiaries.

FRA: ‘High-Impact Wheels Causing Damage to Rails, Track Structures’

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Sept. 7 issued Safety Advisory 2023-04 recommending that railroads use Wheel Impact Load Detectors (WILD) “to properly identify and replace high-impact railcar wheels that could cause significant damage to rails and supporting track structures.”

Commentary

Fixing Flawed RSTAC Metric Methods

I’m always on the lookout for efforts that would change the dataset we’re using, and one is now on the horizon. The STB has three associated Stakeholders Committees, and one of them,

‘Poor Service’ Drives STB’s Proposed Reciprocal Switching Rule (Updated, TD Cowen Commentary)

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Sept. 7 issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that it said focused on “providing rail customers with access to reciprocal switching as a remedy for

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