Category: Federal Railroad Administration
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Biden moves to slow use of trains to haul hazardous LNG, but Trump’s permits let LNG ‘bomb trains’ roll on FEC tracks
By Ann Henson-Feltgen FloridaBulldog.org The Biden administration has proposed a rule that would temporarily halt the transportation of liquified natural gas (LNG) by rail – except in three states, including Florida, where those “bomb trains” regularly haul the highly flammable material through heavily populated neighborhoods along the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) tracks.
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Before Brightline became nation’s deadliest railroad, its owners rejected safety fixes
By Ann Henson Feltgen FloridaBulldog.org The owners of Brightline, the nation’s only privately funded and operated train, have been on notice for years that they weren’t doing enough to prevent fatalities on their tracks.
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LNG ‘bomb trains’ ignite nightmare scenario for South Florida
By Ann Henson Feltgen FloridaBulldog.org “If I lived in South Florida near the Florida East Coast Railway corridor, I would move now…If a train derailed and there was an explosion and fire, you’re dead!,” said Amtrak engineer Ron Kaminkow, general secretary for Railroad Workers United.
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Will Brightline passenger train survive as counties try to choke off funding?
By Ann Henson Feltgen FloridaBulldog.org Brightline’s promise to extend its South Florida passenger train service to Orlando is in jeopardy again after two counties asked a judge this month to rescind federal approval of All Aboard Florida’s plan to issue $1.15 billion in bonds to fund the project.
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Speaking up for safety can lead to retaliation against workers
By Stuart Silverstein and Brian Joseph FairWarning As both a veteran railroad worker and union official responsible for safety, Mike Elliott became alarmed when he learned of trouble-plagued train signals in his home state of Washington. Signals, he said, at times would inexplicably switch from red to yellow to green – potentially creating confusion that…