NTSB updates preliminary information on East Palestine derailment

Workers and equipment around burned out tank cars

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board has updated its preliminary information on the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern derailment and fire in East Palestine, Ohio, revising the count of cars that derailed to 38 and providing a link to an Environmental Protection Agency list of what those cars were carrying. In all, the train included […]

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CSX reaches paid sick time agreements with two more labor unions

CSX logo

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation has reached paid sick time agreements with two more unions representing mechanical workers, the railroad announced today. The agreements, which provide four paid sick days, were reached with divisions of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and Brotherhood of Railway Carmen. Specifically, the deals cover members of the […]

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Canadian government begins process to acquire land for Lac-Mégantic bypass

Map of Lac-Megantic Bypass

LAC-MÉGANTIC, Quebec — The Canadian government has begun the process of expropriating land for the planned Lac-Mégantic rail bypass after being unable to negotiate land purchases, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced Monday. “I understand that some of the landowners are angry, saddened or anxious about this decision,” Alghabra said in a statement. “Believe me, it […]

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Norfolk Southern plans wells to monitor groundwater as part of East Palestine remediation

Burned out tank cars and standing water around derailment site. East Palestine street along NS main line to reopen Monday.

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Norfolk Southern will install wells to monitor groundwater as part of its ongoing efforts to manage fallout from the Feb. 3 derailment and fire involving toxic chemicals in East Palestine, according to the remedial action plan released by the company. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the railroad will also engage in soil […]

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Can VIA Rail’s Canadian beat the clock on the busy Canadian National main line?

For years now riding VIA Rail’s Canadian has been more about the experience than arriving on time. A lot more, in fact. Even your boarding pass for VIA’s flagship warns that you shouldn’t book same-day connections at your destination. But things seem to be changing. As part of its effort to run its freights closer […]

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East Palestine plans town hall meeting on derailment

Burned out tank cars and tank truck in muddy area

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The Village of East Palestine will hold an informational town hall meeting on Wednesday regarding followup to the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern derailment, Mayor Trent Conaway has announced. The 7 p.m. meeting at the East Palestine High School Auditorium will be an opportunity for residents and those in the surrounded area […]

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CSX reaches agreement with two more unions to provide paid sick leave

CSX logo

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation announced today (Friday, Feb. 10) that it has reached agreement with two more unions to provide four days of paid sick leave. The agreements are with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers, which represent the company’s utility workers. They follow […]

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Rail traffic resumes, cleanup continues in East Palestine

Aerial view of derailment cleanup and track work

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Trains are running again through East Palestine, Ohio, although the village’s mayor isn’t too pleased with the way operations resumed. WKYC-TV reports Norfolk Southern began operations on its main Cleveland-Pittsburgh line through East Palestine Wednesday evening, to the displeasure of Mayor Trent Conaway, who said he had been told trains would […]

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Norfolk Southern to pay fine for coal spill in 2020 derailment

Norfolk Southern logo

SALEM, Va. — Norfolk Southern will pay a $27,300 fine for a coal spill into the Roanoke River resulting from a 2020 derailment, the Roanoke Times reports. The agreement between NS and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality stems from an Oct. 30, 2020, derailment of 26 hopper cars that sent 12 cars into the […]

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Union group calls for FRA to require Class I participation in close-call reporting system

Logo of Transportation Trades Department of AFL-CIO

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, a coalition of 37 transportation-related unions including several related to railroading, is calling on the Federal Railroad Administration to require Class I railroads to participate in the Confidential Close Call Reporting System, a currently voluntary method of tracking and addressing near-accident situations. In a letter Thursday […]

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CP, Steelworkers in Canada reach tentative agreement

Canadian Pacific Railway beaver logo

CALGARY — Canadian Pacific announced Thursday it has reached a tentative contract agreement with United Steelworkers Local 1976, which represents approximately 550 administrative support and intermodal workers in Canada. Details will not be released until the contract is ratified, the railroad said. The Steelworkers said negotiations had been in progress since November. “This agreement makes […]

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Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 7 | Ambient sounds for Sand Creek

David works to put all the right sounds in all the right places on his Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout. His secret to installing the proper audio effects lies in the PRICOM Dream Player modules and the wide array of sounds samples that fit on a tiny micro-SD card. Follow along to learn David’s pro […]

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