NTSB's Hersman: Frequency of fatigue in transportation operations is 'alarming'
Washington, D.C.
March 9, 2010
Progressive Railroading
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Deborah Hersman is calling on sleep researchers and the health-care community to continue educating transportation policymakers about the dangers of fatigue in all transportation modes.
Fatigue has been a concern for the NTSB since it was created in 1967 and an item on the board’s “Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements” since the list was established in 1990, Hersman said during a speech March 5 at the National Sleep Foundation’s annual conference in Washington, D.C. The NTSB seeks to partner with the foundation and other organizations to increase awareness of fatigue and improve transportation safety.
Because a number of transportation accident investigations found fatigue was the probable cause or a contributing factor, the NTSB has made several safety recommendations that range from deploying fatigue detection systems to installing electronic onboard recorders that collect and maintain hours-of-service data, said Hersman.
“We can’t always prove fatigue as a cause of an accident, but the frequency with which we now routinely document the presence of fatigue-related factors in transportation operations is alarming,” she said.
U.S. carloads climb to highest level since late 2008
Washington, D.C.
March 8, 2010
AAR News
U.S. railroads ended February with their highest weekly carload volume in more than a year. During the week ending Feb. 27, they originated 290,261 carloads, up 2.6 percent, and 205,817 intermodal loads, up 17.5 percent compared with totals from the same week last year. Total volume rose 3.9 percent to an estimated 31.6 billion ton-miles.
Several U.S. Class Is so far are exceeding projected annual volume growth of between 4 percent and 5 percent, according to Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc.’s latest “Rail Flash” report. Norfolk Southern Railway and Union Pacific Corp. are “positioned” to increase 2010 volumes more than 10 percent, while CSX Transportation is tracking at volume growth of 7 percent, Baird analysts said in the report. BNSF Railway Co.’s volume growth is being hampered by weak coal demand, they said.
Meanwhile, Canadian railroads reported weekly volume of 71,378 carloads, up 12.2 percent, and 43,445 containers and trailers, up 11 percent year over year. Mexican railroads reported volume of 14,057 carloads, up 17 percent, and intermodal volume of 6,909 units, up 59.2 percent.
A Healthy Rail Network Critical to the Nation's Recovery
Washington, D.C.
March 5, 2010
AAR News
Association of American Railroads President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger said today that freight railroads are at a critical point in their history as the industry is facing new challenges from over-burdensome federal regulatory mandates that could seriously undercut the industry's ability to aid in U.S. economic recovery.
At a press briefing marking the release of a report titled Great Expectations: Railroads and U.S. Economic Recovery, Hamberger said that while freight railroads have been able to weather the economic downturn, they stand to face even more difficult times.
"Freight rail is the only mode of transportation that is almost entirely self sustaining," Hamberger said, noting that as the recession continued through 2009, freight railroads invested approximately $9 billion upgrading and modernizing the nation's rail network. "We sustain a healthy national rail system with private capital and we also deliver tremendous public, economic and job benefits to American businesses and consumers."
According to the AAR report, freight railroads generate nearly $265 billion in total annual economic activity, and directly or indirectly support more than 1.2 million U.S. jobs. Every one freight rail job supports another 4.5 jobs elsewhere in the economy, the report said.
Additionally, country's privately owned freight railroads provide the literal foundation for the Obama Administration's vision for high-speed and intercity passenger rail. Today, more than 90 percent of Amtrak's operation moves on track rights-of-way owned by freight railroads; with the exception of a few express rail lines, the federal government's plan for high-speed rail envisions sharing track with freight.
"Railroads face new policy initiatives that could hamper our ability to meet the great expectations America now has for rail to aid in our economic recovery," Hamberger said. "Select legislative and regulatory proposals are creating an air of uncertainty at a time when there is already too much of that. When so much is riding on freight rail's ability to sustain a healthy national rail network necessary to help America through to economic recovery, now is not the time to undermine our financial viability."
Hamberger pointed out that costly federal mandates and regulations could have a direct and negative impact on businesses and consumers in the form of higher costs for goods and services.
"What's more, policies that weaken the industry's ability to attract investors could threaten high-paying American jobs with freight rail companies, as well as those jobs connected to the railroads in areas such as housing, manufacturing, retail and agribusiness," he added.
Great Expectations: Railroads and U.S. Economic Recovery is an AAR analysis report that examines the freight railroad industry's contribution to the U.S. economy, and includes statistical data on the industry's progress throughout the economic downturn. It also provides an analysis of key policy initiatives in Washington, their potential impact on the industry, and possible solutions.
UP lands on magazine's top 100 'corporate citizens' list
March 4, 2010
Progressive Railroading
Corporate Responsibility magazine recently named Union Pacific Railroad one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens for 2010. The only railroad named to the list, UP is ranked second among transportation companies and No. 69 overall.
The list measures Russell 1000 Index companies in about 360 data points divided into seven categories: governance, environmental, human rights, employee relations, climate change, philanthropy and financial. UP ranked among the leaders in the governance and financial categories. The list also ranks Wal-Mart Stores Inc. at No. 21, United Parcel Service Inc. at No. 46, Southern Co. at No. 71, Ford Motor Co. at No. 88 and E.I. DuPont De Nemours & Co. at No. 92.
During the past year, UP has received numerous awards, including the rail industry's most admired company as part of Fortune’s most admired companies survey; the 2009 Corporation of the Year by the Great Plains Minority Supplier Development Council; the top military-friendly employer by G.I. Jobs; one of the top 50 Best Places to Launch a Career by BusinessWeek; and the Distinguished Service Award from the Military Officers Association of America.
Amtrak train hits fire truck on tracks
Detroit, Michigan
March 2, 2010
AP
Authorities say a Chicago-bound Amtrak train with at least 76 people aboard has slammed into a fire truck that was stopped on the tracks in southwest Detroit, causing minor injuries to several people, the Associated Press reported.
Executive Fire Commissioner James Mack says the ladder truck was hit as the driver tried to move it Monday morning. He says the truck and a police car were there helping a family involved in an earlier crash.
Mack says a firefighter had minor injuries.
Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari says 72 passengers and at least four crew members were aboard the train. He says several people sought treatment for minor injuries.
Magliari says buses are taking the westbound passengers to their stops.