2014 safest year on record

The most recent safety statistics released by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in April show that 2014 was the safest year on record for train operations in the United States, in terms of both the number of accidents and the accident rate per million train-miles, for a variety of causes. These numbers include passenger rail, though the majority are freight rail accidents.

Intermodal uptick once again offsets carload dip

According to the most recent figures from the Association of American Railroads (AAR), yet another increase in intermodal traffic helped offset carload traffic decreases especially in coal, metallic ores and metals, and nonmetallic minerals.

Examining the DOT v. AAR Supreme Court decision regarding Amtrak

On March 9, 2015, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Department of Transportation v. Association of American Railroads, No. 13-1080, 575 U.S. ___ (2015) (DOT v. AAR), a case closely watched in the railroad industry and by those interested in the Constitutional separation of powers issues posed by the case.

Rail freight traffic relatively flat

Gains in intermodal helped offset a downturn in carload traffic during the month of March 2015, the week ended March 28 and the year’s first quarter, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Intermodal gains pace railroad traffic

A strong showing for intermodal offset a drop in carload volume on North American railroads for the week ending March 21, 2015, the Association of American Railroads reported.

AAR, API collaborate on CBR first-responder safety course

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) and American Petroleum Institute (API) have collaborated on a new crude-by-rail (CBR) introductory safety course for first responders. This course is available free of charge to emergency response organizations and fire departments via the Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response (TRANSCAER®) program, of which railroads and oil companies are members.
Commentary

Implications aplenty in Supreme Court Amtrak ruling

The Supreme Court March 9 sent back to a federal appellate court for reconsideration a freight railroad challenge to a provision of the 2008 Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) that allowed the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Amtrak to collaborate in establishing minimum on-time performance standards for Amtrak passenger trains operating on freight railroad-owned track. The 9-0 unanimous decision was written by Justice Anthony Kennedy.

AAR: VanderClute retires; Rush takes up the safety reins

Association of American Railroads Senior Vice President of Safety & Operations Robert VanderClute, a 44-year career railroader, has retired after 12 years with the organization. He is succeeded by Michael Rush, who has been with the AAR since 1980 and will be moving from his position as associate general counsel.

Commentary

Thanksgiving dinner and more, brought to you by America’s railroads

This Thanksgiving Day, as you sit down with your families to eat a sumptuous meal, think of Hamberger. No, not the hamburgers served by the calorie-laden billions at junk—er, fast—food places like McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, White Castle, etc., but Hamberger, as in Ed, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads, who on his first day on the job many years ago, hosted a get-together called “hot dogs with Hamberger.”

Looking for a good career? Look to the railroads

By year-end 2014, U.S. Class I railroads will have hired 45,000 employees since 2012, including an estimated 9,900 military veterans. Some 17,000 will have been hired this year, far exceeding the projected industry target of 12,000, according to the Association of American Railroads.
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