Amtrak, the U.S. intercity passenger railroad supported by taxpayers, asked Congress to more than double its capital budget so it can buy more trains and improve infrastructure. Amtrak, in a letter today to Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner, asked for $2.1 billion in U.S. funds for its capital budget and $212 [...]
Rail passenger groups seeks federal aid
March 22, 2013
The National Association of Railroad Passengers, the U.S. High Speed Rail Association, Californians for High Speed Rail, and the Midwest High Speed Rail Association are urging Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to support XpressWest’s creation of a Los Angeles to Las Vegas high-speed rail line. XpressWest currently has loan application pending with the Federal Railroad [...]
UTU, Amtrak reach tentative contract deal
March 18, 2013
After more than two years of negotiations, three UTU-SMART general committees representing some 2,300 Amtrak members have reached a deal with the passenger carrier on a new contract. General Chairpersons Bill Beebe, Robert Keeley and Dirk Sampson represent Amtrak conductors, assistant conductors, yardmasters and dining car stewards. The parties first began negotiations in 2010 and [...]
Coscia elected chairman, Amtrak board of directors
March 18, 2013
WASHINGTON – The Amtrak Board of Directors has elected Anthony R. Coscia to be its next chairman to help guide the future of the railroad and carry out initiatives to increase ridership and improve operational and financial performance. In addition, the Amtrak board elected Jeffrey R. Moreland as vice-chairman. An Amtrak board member since June [...]
Rule adds non-controlled substances to drug list
March 7, 2013
The Federal Railroad Administration has published a final rule, effective May 6, 2013, adding certain non-controlled substances with potentially impairing side effects to its standard post-accident testing panel. This rule will enact the addition of over-the-counter, legal drugs, (uncontrolled) such as Tramadol and a variety of sedating antihistamines, to the panel of drugs being tested [...]
RRB answers questions about retirement benefits
March 7, 2013
Employers and employees covered by the Railroad Retirement Act pay higher retirement taxes than those covered by the Social Security Act, so that railroad retirement benefits remain higher than social security benefits, especially for career employees. The following questions and answers show the differences in railroad retirement and social security benefits payable at the close [...]
Stem testifies before House railroad subcommittee
March 6, 2013
SMART Transportation Division National Legislative Director James Stem and others testified yesterday before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials regarding the importance of railroads in America’s transportation network and to its economy. He was one of only four industry representatives invited to appear before [...]
Effective peer-to-peer ‘in-cab communication’ is key
March 4, 2013
In-cab communication is an essential element in overall railroad safety. Too many fatal accidents and injuries have been attributed to a lack of or insufficient “in-cab communications.” Peer-to-peer interaction is the key component to effective in-cab communications, according to the UTU’s Rail Safety Task Force. Everyone knows someone who can benefit from peer-to-peer interaction. Post-accident [...]
Amtrak carried record passenger traffic in 2012
March 4, 2013
Perhaps sparked by highway congestion or the hassle of air travel, Amtrak’s passenger rail service has been the nation’s fastest growing mode of transportation, according to a new report that urges Congress to push forward with a coordinated national rail plan. The government-subsidized railway carried a record 31.2 million people last year, a 55 percent [...]
Halt the neglect of transportation infrastructure
February 27, 2013
SMART Transportation Division President Mike Futhey and Assistant President John Previsich this week joined the leaders of other AFL-CIO affiliate unions at the organization’s annual winter meeting. They also meet separately with members of the organization’s Transportation Trades Department to roll out a 2013 transportation investment and jobs agenda, stake out an aggressive stance against [...]
