On April 12, 2019, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) granted the BNSF Railway (BNSF) a test waiver to conduct a pilot program on the carrier’s Southern Transcon trains between Chicago, IL, and California to “demonstrate that the use of wheel temperature detectors to prove brake health effectiveness (BHE) will improve safety, reduce risks to employees,
On December 26, 2019, Keolis Train 518 derailed on the Worcester Main Line. The BRC/TCU members of the Wreck Crew responded to this Main Line derailment to re-rail the equipment and to open the Main Line as quickly as possible. Keolis Commuter Line Railroad is one of the few railroads on the country with its
Brother Dillard initiated with the BRC/TCU Local 6067 on April 1, 1970. Brother Dillard has achieved 50 years of active service at the Alaska Railroad Corporation in Anchorage. He currently is working the AAR Write-Up Position at the Repair Facility. His responsibilities include inspecting and writing up freight cars and passenger cars that are used
Amtrak recently gave a thank you to the Coach Cleaners working so diligently around the country and highlighted the TCU Members in Ivy City Shanell Shaw, Gladys Amaya-Hernandez,Chris Goodnight, Delmy Argueta and Raymond Garnett In the release from AMTRAK: Thank you to all of our employees who are keeping our operations moving safely and smoothly
On March 13, 2020, noting the President’s declaration of a national emergency related to COVID-19 and the World Health Organization’s characterization of COVID-19 as pandemic, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator Ronald L. Batory activated an emergency relief docket (ERD) (Docket No. FRA-2020-0002). Activation of an ERD enables FRA to utilize its emergency waiver procedures to
On January 15, 2020, FRA issued an extensive Notice Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) entitled “Brake System Safety Standards.” The NPRM makes sweeping changes to brake inspections standards, and incorporates into the regulations a large number of waivers it has issued to railroads and railroad associations. Among these changes are modifications to regulations concerning air brake tests,
The BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) has petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a waiver of compliance from Federal railroad safety regulations with respect to transfer movements between BNSF’s Old South Yard and New South Yard in Houston, Texas. More specifically, BNSF proposes to conduct a Class III brake test in lieu of a transfer
In February 2019, Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations regarding refresher training for all NS craft personnel responsible for performing freight air brakes tests. Specifically, NS proposed to create a 3-D simulation using web-based software to satisfy
On November 18, 2019, SEPTA Carmen overwhelmingly ratified a contract which spans the period of February 17, 2017 thru February 16, 2022. The first wage increase was effective November 24, 2019. “I would like to thank the members for voting and their perseverance to get this contract completed,” said TCU Vice President Artie Maratea. “I
VA Senators send Letter to FreightCar CEO Asking for Explanation of Sending Jobs to Mexico In a letter from Virginia Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, they ask for FreightCar CEO James Meyer to explain the company’s actions in ending 200 good-paying union jobs and opening a new production facility in Mexico. The letter states:
