Industry News
U.S. Rail Fatalities Continue to Decline
July 1, 2009 | 05:00 p.m. CDT
According to statistics released July 1 by the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Office of Safety Analysis, fatalities reported by U.S. railroads continued to decline in this year's first four months, reports Railway Age.
The report gives accident/incidents comparisons for the last four years. Rail fatalities totaled 209 in the January-April 2009 period, down 1.9 percent from the corresponding period last year and down 21.7 percent from the same period in 2006.
Grade crossing fatalities were down 5.6 percent this year to 67 and down 42.7 percent from the 2006 period. Trespassing fatalities increased 2.3 percent to 134 in this year's first four months, up 2.3 percent from last year but down 8.2 percent from 2006.
The FRA report lists seven employee fatalities through April this year, compared with six in the 2009 period and three in January-April 2006.
A total of 3,326 accidents and incidents were reported in this year's first four months by 696 large and small railroads. This was down 20.2 percent from last year and 24.5 percent from 2006.
Train accidents were down 31 percent from last year, to 587, and 38.6 percent from 2006. Collisions were down 29.7 percent from the 2008 period, to 45, and 22.4 percent from 2006.
Derailments in this year's first four months were down 32.4 percent to 417, and down 38.9 percent from 2006. Yard accidents declined 34 percent to 300 from last year and were down 44.1 percent from 2006.
BNSF, BLET Reach Tentative Accord
Nov. 6, 2009 | 01:15 p.m. CST
BNSF Railway Co. and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) reached a tentative agreement to settle wage and work rule matters concerning BNSF's locomotive engineers for the major round of collective bargaining that will begin Jan. 1, 2010. More...
Some Commodity Groups Show Increase
Nov. 6, 2009 | 01:00 p.m. CST
U.S. railroads reported originating 275,439 carloads for the week ended Oct. 31, down 13.7 percent compared with the same week in 2008 and down 18.2 percent from 2007. More...
Employee Helps Homeless Boost Computer Skills
Nov. 6, 2009 | 12:45 p.m. CST
Khaled Mabrouk has been volunteering two hours each Saturday morning since June 2008 in the Omaha Open Door Mission's learning center computer room. More...
Emergency Funds Aid Struggling Families
Nov. 6, 2009 | 11:25 a.m. CST
Emergency funds were scarce for a Salvation Army in Blair, Neb. Several weeks ago, the organization found itself unable to provide support to residents needing assistance with rent and utilities until its new fiscal year began on Oct. 1. More...
Railroads Post New Gains in Safety
Nov. 4, 2009 | 03:45 p.m. CST
According to the Federal Railroad Administration's Office of Safety, U.S. rail-related fatalities declined 12.4 percent to a total of 466 in the 12 months ended Aug. 31. More...
NMB Proposes Union Election Rule Changes
Nov. 4, 2009 | 03:25 p.m. CST
The board is proposing to change the threshold for a successful union election from a majority of eligible voters in a classification to a majority of voters who actually participate in an election. More...
Warren Buffett Buys BNSF
Nov. 3, 2009 | 09:20 a.m. CST
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. will pay $26 billion to buy out railroad Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. in what the billionaire investor called a bet on the U.S. economy. More...
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