News

In the wake of Hurricanes Florence and Michael, the AFL-CIO Union Plus program, which SMART Transportation members are eligible to join, reminds people that disaster assistance grants are available from them. Members who have had a Union Plus credit card for three months, mortgage or insurance for at least 12 months (with the account or…

Most railroad retirement annuities, like social security benefits, will increase in January 2019 due to a rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the third quarter of 2017 to the corresponding period of the current year. Cost-of-living increases are calculated in both the tier I and tier II benefits included in a railroad retirement…

SMART Transportation Division is seeking quality railroad, bus and airline photos taken by members for placement in the annual SMART TD Alumni Association calendar and for other uses. We are especially looking for photos from our bus members! High-resolution horizontal digital photographs should be emailed to news_td@smart-union.org. Printed photographs should be mailed to SMART TD…

The Bellingham Herald reports that last week the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) decided to repeal a rule that required electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) braking systems be installed on all oil trains. The original rule was intended to increase safety and help prevent the derailment and puncturing of cars. DOT’s original…

During a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee hearing on the implementation of positive train control (PTC) among U.S. railroads Oct. 3, an Amtrak executive said that the carrier plans to continue operating the Southwest Chief passenger route through at least the 2019 fiscal year. Amtrak Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Scot Naparstek told…