WTS International President and CEO Sara M. Stickler (left) and Eno President and CEO Robert Puentes (right) sign a formal MOU on Sept. 8.

Association Briefs: WTS International, ASLRRA

The Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) International and the Eno Center for Transportation (Eno) sign memorandum of understanding (MOU). Also, from the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association’s weekly Views & News: A Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) report discusses results of Onboard Broken Rail Detection (OBRD) system research; ASLRRA congratulates industry colleagues on their retirements; and registration opens for first ASLRRA training seminar in 2023.

FRA Grants CN Comment Period Extension for Virtual Training Software

Following a 45-day public comment period that ended on Sept. 8 on CN’s waiver request to use virtual 3D simulation as an alternative to hands-on training required by 49 CFR 232.203(b)(8), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is extending the comment period for an additional 60 days “to ensure all interested parties have ample time to provide their comments following a demonstration of the software scheduled for the second half of September.”

AAR Report: Nationwide Rail Shutdown Could Cost $2 Billion Per Day

A report released on Sept. 8 by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) has found that a nationwide rail shutdown would “dramatically impact economic output” and could cost more than $2 billion per day.

FRA Eyes RRP Rule Update

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Sept. 8 issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to solicit comments on whether it should retain or remove a provision of the Risk Reduction Program (RRP) final rule, which took effect in 2020.

Association Briefs: SLSI, OneRail Coalition, ASLRRA

Limited spots available in Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) leadership training. Also, the OneRail Coalition sends letters to lawmakers encouraging strong support for rail in appropriations packages; and American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) members receive preferred pricing on drug and alcohol testing services with Spark TS (previously Spark Training Solutions).

Commentary

Single-Person Crews: Happy, Unhappy or Somewhere In-Between

While we’re all waiting for the carriers and the unions to agree or not on the recommendations of the Presidential Emergency Board, I thought I’d probe a bit more into the issue of the single-person crew for main line freight train movements in these United States.

FRA Administrator Amit Bose

FRA Seeks Feedback on Interstate Rail Compacts Grant Program

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a Request of Information (RFI) on the new Interstate Rail Compacts Grant Program that it will administer; comments are due Sept. 19, 2022.

(Photograph Courtesy of Amtrak)

FRA Awards $233MM in SOGR Grants

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Aug. 18 awarded more than $233 million to 11 projects in eight states that will upgrade intercity passenger rail service. The grants are provided under the FY 2021 Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair (SOGR) Program (Partnership Program).

Identify, Invest, Innovate, Implement, Improve

RAILWAY AGE AUGUST 2022 ISSUE: Derailment safety in the U.S., 1975 to 2021—and goals for the future.

Commentary

FRA NPRM: The Truth Behind the Need for Two-Person Crews

Editor’s Note: Capitol Hill Contributing Editor Frank N. Wilner, who in his roughly half-century in the railway industry worked for the New York Central, Association of American Railroads, Surface Transportation Board and

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