ROCKVIEW, Mo. – Seven people were injured early Saturday, May 25, when two freight trains collided, spurring the collapse of a highway overpass. Dispatcher Clay Slipis of the Scott County Sheriff’s Department said two vehicles were on the Highway M overpass about 2:30 a.m. when a Union Pacific train T-boned a BNSF Railway train. Read the [...]
Congressmen announce public transportation caucus
May 24, 2013
U.S. Reps. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) and Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) announced May 23 the formation of the Congressional Public Transportation Caucus aimed at addressing issues facing the country’s public transportation systems, including rail, light rail, bus rapid transit, and traditional bus service. The bipartisan Caucus will provide a forum for members of Congress to engage in [...]
Amtrak board extends contract of CEO Boardman
May 24, 2013
WASHINGTON – The Amtrak board of directors is extending the contract of President and CEO Joe Boardman for his achievements in improving the operational and financial performance of America’s Railroad and providing the continuity of leadership critical to the ongoing implementation of the company’s strategic plan. “We are extremely pleased with the progress Amtrak has [...]
Chicago Terminal employees vote SMART
May 22, 2013
Operating employees of Chicago Terminal Railroad May 20 were successful in their efforts to bring union representation to their property. The National Mediation Board has certified that 70 percent of eligible employees voted for representation by the SMART Transportation Division. CTR operates three segments of track in the city and its suburbs, serving a variety [...]
Firefighters use ladder to rescue CP workers
May 22, 2013
CHARLES CITY, Iowa — Faced with dark and muddy conditions, firefighters used a long ladder to rescue three railroad workers from a train derailment caused by a washed-out rail line near Charles City early Tuesday. No one was injured. Tuesday night, Ed Greenberg, a spokesman for the Canadian Pacific Railroad, confirmed that the partially submerged [...]
Do programs produce safety, or manipulate reality?
May 21, 2013
By Mike Futhey, SMART Transportation Division President – Throughout my career as a union officer, I have experienced every type of carrier safety program imaginable: from official company “snitches” to complex, overly burdensome and intrusive research, to innovative, cooperative, joint ventures. Employees need a program to know the program du jour. When programs fall by the [...]
RRB payments adjusted for spouse, widow annuitants
May 21, 2013
Railroad Retirement Act spouse and widow(er)s’ annuities (including divorced spouse, surviving divorced spouse and remarried widow(er)s’ annuities) are subject to reduction when Social Security benefits or dual Railroad Retirement annuities are also payable. Such Railroad Retirement benefits may also be reduced when a spouse or widow(er) is entitled to a public service pension unless certain [...]
Scores injured in Metro-North Railroad crash
May 20, 2013
More than 60 people were injured after two Metro-North Railroad commuter trains collided during rush hour Friday evening near New York City. An estimated 700 passengers were on board the two trains that collided just outside Bridgeport, Connecticut, according to New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority. According to MTA, the crash occurred after a train that [...]
Former International President Little dies
May 17, 2013
Former UTU International President Charles L. Little, 77, died May 15 following a brief illness. Little was the fifth president of the UTU, elected at the union’s seventh quadrennial convention in 1995 and re-elected in 1999. He served from Jan. 1, 1996, until his retirement in 2001. Little began his railroading career with Houston Belt [...]
Retired member conducts, but with baton in hand
May 17, 2013
Retired BNSF conductor and UTU member of Local 311 Art Ingalls, 69, is conducting again. This time, instead of trains, he’s conducting music. Every year the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra of La Crosse, Wis., chooses five people to represent them and go out to the public and collect donations for them in their “Conductor Wannabe” [...]
