MoveAmerica Blog
Rail
Larry Willis on America’s Workforce Radio: Outsourcing Freight Rail Jobs and Undermining Safety is a Mistake
This summer, the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) allowed the freight carrier Kansas City Southern Railroad (KCSR) to operate freight trains in the United States with crews from Mexico. TTD President Larry I. Willis joined America’s Workforce Radio host Ed “Flash” Ferenc to discuss this concerning decision, and its implications, in a recent interview. The decision […]
Two-Person Crew Train Legislation Prioritizes Safety and Common Sense
In transportation, almost everyone talks about the need to put safety first, but when given the choice between cutting costs and lowering standards, some companies choose wrong. That is what we are seeing in the freight rail industry’s efforts to reduce crew size. Today, nearly every freight train in America is operated by two […]
Watch Vice President Joe Biden Give Mad Props to Amtrak Employees
During last week’s announcement that Amtrak would be purchasing 28 new high-speed train sets, Vice President Joe Biden called out Amtrak’s dedicated employees for their incredible contributions to our national passenger rail system. Praising them for regularly going above and beyond, he noted that “management is fine, but employees are better.” This isn’t just lip service. […]
Join our Twitter Takeover to Demand #2CrewTrains
Common sense tells us that operating a 19,000-ton freight train with a single crewmember – like the railroads want to do – is a dangerous idea. But what do the men and women who actually operate these trains think? Now is your chance to find out! This Thursday, SMART-TD member and BNSF conductor Mike Rankin […]
Ed Wytkind Discusses High Speed Rail on The Rick Smith Show
Ed Wytkind, president of TTD, discusses high speed rail and its impact on national infrastructure, individual communities and the economy on The Rick Smith Show. Wytkind commented on California’s ambitious high-speed rail plan, which would bring 225 mile-per-hour service to the state, and a proposed project to connect Chicago to several major metropolitan areas, which […]
Huffington Post — Moving Forward: Faster Trains Propel the Economy, and our Middle Class, Forward
Note: This is the second piece in a series that explores the connection between a robust transportation system and a stronger middle class. Read the first piece which sets the tone for a much needed national conversation. Around the globe, the race is on to bring the world’s fastest trains — which top speeds nearing […]
Inward-Facing Cameras a Distraction from Serious Rail Safety Debate
The Amtrak crash in Philadelphia has reopened the debate about what can done to make passenger and freight rail safer for both passengers and workers. At recent Senate Commerce Committee and House Transportation and Infrastructure hearings, a number of solutions were proposed, including immediately installing inward-facing cameras in locomotive rail cabs. Proponents of cameras argue […]