Rail

Other than the lobby for the behemoth, multi-billion dollar railroad companies, almost no one believes we should permit up to 20,000-ton freight trains, many filled with things that blow up, to travel across America with a single crew member at the controls. The American people hate this idea. Across the country, in small towns and […]

[As published By John Previsich And Edward Wytkind in The Modesto Bee] California has more museums dedicated to railroads than any other state in our country – and it’s easy to see why. From the transcontinental railroad to the developing high-speed rail system, rail transportation has played a significant role in shaping this state’s history. The […]

Washington, DC — Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issued the following statement on a bipartisan bill that extends the deadline for implementation of positive train control (PTC) technology: “TTD supports bipartisan legislation – introduced today by the leadership of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee – that extends the statutory deadline […]

As published by Keith Laing in The Hill.   Senate to consider extending deadline for automating trains The Senate committee that oversees transportation issues is scheduled to mark up a measure on Wednesday that would extend a deadline for U.S. railways to equip their trains with automated control systems by five years. Current law requires that […]

Washington, DC—Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement about the Senate markup of the Positive Train Control (PTC) extension bill:  “A five-year extension of the deadline by which Positive Train Control (PTC) technology must be implemented cannot be considered in a vacuum or in isolation. Rail employees, first responders, […]

Did you miss TTD Secretary-Treasurer Larry Willis discussing Fast Track and the Amtrak and surface transportation reauthorizations on America’s Work Force Radio on Monday? You’re in luck — you can listen to the show here on the MoveAmerica blog. TTD stands with the AFL-CIO in opposition to Fast Track: as Larry points out in the interview, in the […]

As published by Joan Lowy for the Associated Press.   House passes bipartisan Amtrak bill that could boost Northeast Corridor service WASHINGTON (AP) — In a rare burst of bipartisanship, the House moved Wednesday to boost Amtrak’s popular service between Boston and Washington while giving states a greater say in the local routes they help […]

As published in Progressive Railroading.   House passes $8 billion Amtrak funding bill The U.S. House yesterday passed a bill that authorizes nearly $8 billion to fund Amtrak over the next four years. The Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015 (PRRIA) would keep Amtrak funded at nearly current levels, about $1.4 billion per year, […]

Washington, DC—Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement about the House passage of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015 (PRRIA): “Today the House of Representatives took an important step to sustain Amtrak, America’s national passenger railroad. The overwhelming vote today on the floor of the House […]

Vote YES on H.R. 749 – the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015 Vote NO on the McClintock Amendment to Defund and Bankrupt Amtrak   March 3, 2015 Dear Representative: On behalf of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), I urge you to support H.R. 749 – the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment […]