Safety appliance evolution

In 2011, the FRA established a process in Part 231.33 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations for industry organizations like the AAR to submit new safety appliance standards to the FRA for review and approval. On Feb. 10 of this year, the FRA approved an AAR petition requesting approval of major portions of the new AAR safety appliance standard S-2044.

AAR: Traffic gains for April, first days of May

April’s solid advances in U.S. freight rail traffic rolled on into the first days of May, the Association of American Railroads reported Thursday, May 8, 2014.

Commentary

Data drought haunts FRA crew-size mandate

By the Federal Railroad Administration’s own congressional testimony, the years 2012 and 2013 were among the railroads’ safest on record, while the relatively few train crashes were mostly the result of human error and track defects.

Intermodal leads weekly traffic gains

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) on April 10, 2014 reported increased U.S. rail traffic for the week ending April 5, 2014 with 296,039 total U.S. carloads, up 5.4% compared with the same week last year. Total U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 261,084 units, up 12.6% compared with the same week last year. Total combined U.S. weekly rail traffic was 557,123 carloads and intermodal units, up 8.7% compared with the same week last year.

AAR responds to service questions raised at STB hearing

Following an April 10, 2014 Surface Transportation Board hearing on railroad service issues, the Association of American Railroads issued a statement in response to questions that have been raised.

AAR announces new Silver Associate Member, Railroad Facts availability

Girard Equipment Inc. has joined the Association of American Railroads as a new Silver Associate Member.

U.S. freight traffic up again in week and in March

For the fifth time in six weeks, U.S. freight rail traffic gained ground against the comparable week in 2013 and, not surprisingly, that contributed to increased traffic totals for the month of March, according to data released Thursday, April 3, 2014 by the Association of American Railroads.

U.S. freight traffic winning streak continues

U.S. freight rail traffic perpetuated its growth momentum during the week ending March 22, 2014, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday, March 27.

“A solution looking for a problem”

Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ed Hamberger, participating in testimony before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, has called the National Industrial Transportation League’s proposal to the STB to force reciprocal switching on the railroads “flawed” and “a solution looking for a problem.”

House T&I to STB: Look before you leap

On March 25-26, 2014, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) will hold a public hearing on a petition by the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) to modify STB’s standards for mandatory competitive switching. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has sent a bipartisan letter to STB Chairman Dan Elliot and Vice Chairman Ann Begeman indirectly urging them to consider the consequences for railroads should the Board accept NITL’s proposal, and strongly voicing the Committee’s intent to oppose such a policy change.

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