Industry News
Operation Lifesaver Launches New Campaign
June 26, 2009 | 08:30 a.m. CDT
Operation Lifesaver, Inc., the U.S. Department of Transportation and major railroad companies June 24 announced the launch of the Common Sense campaign to reduce the number of pedestrians who are killed and injured when trespassing around tracks and trains.
The campaign is focused on 18 to 34-year-olds, who make up the largest percentage of railroad-related pedestrian casualties. The Common Sense campaign is designed to educate the public about the risks of trespassing on railroad property.
The campaign includes an interactive website, Internet ads, safety tips, videos and local events, located at www.CommonSenseUseIt.com. It will be test-marketed in areas where pedestrian rail trespass incidents frequently occur, including targeted local markets.
"Young adults also may be distracted by cell phones, texting, or listening to MP3 players if they're near the tracks," said Cliff Stayton, a former locomotive engineer. "This new public awareness campaign has a simple message: staying away from the tracks is common sense, and it can save your life."
According to Federal Railroad Administration statistics, the casualty rate for all rail trespassers rose in 2008. More than 870 people died or were injured in railroad-related trespassing incidents in 2008, and the numbers have topped 9,000 in the last 10 years.
States with the highest number of pedestrian rail trespass deaths in 2008 include: California, Illinois, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Tennessee, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Massachusetts and Georgia. Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo notes that 18 to 34-year-olds represent nearly 36 percent of all the rail-related pedestrian casualties that occurred last year.
Railroad companies partnering with Operation Lifesaver's Common Sense campaign include CSX, Union Pacific, Amtrak, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, and Kansas City Southern.
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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