Issue / Railroads
Railroads have been a vital aspect of the transportation system for nearly 200 years. Moving both passengers and freight, railroads offer high capacity and efficient transportation options. Freight railroads in the United States are mostly owned by private companies, who maintain and operate their system using wholly private revenues. Passenger systems, whether through Amtrak or various commuter railroads, require public assistance and either operate on their own track or pay to use freight railroad-own track.
Celebrating a Visionary with an Update on a New Hudson River Rail Tunnel
May 12, 2023 | Philip PlotchThe Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center celebrated its 25th anniversary this month with remembrances of a transportation visionary...
House T&I Discusses Workforce, Safety, and Service Challenges Impacting Freight Rail Supply Chain
May 12, 2023 | Anusha ChitturiThe House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials held a hearing on May 11 to discuss the rail supply chain...
Summary of Senate Railroad Safety Bill
May 12, 2023 | Jeff DavisThis is a summary of S. 576, the Railway Safety Act of 2023, as amended and ordered reported by the Senate Commerce Committee on May...
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Hearing: Railway Safety Act The Main Focus
Mar 24, 2023 | Anusha ChitturiThe U.S Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing on March 22 to discuss safety issues pertaining to the...
NTSB Issues Initial Report on Ohio Train Derailment
Feb 24, 2023 | Jeff DavisThe National Transportation Safety Board yesterday released its preliminary report on the derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight...
EXPLAINER: What to know on Congress’ bid to bar rail strike
Nov 29, 2022 | Jeff DavisJeff Davis, a senior fellow at the Eno Center for Transportation, said he expects senators from both parties will ultimately have to...
House to Vote This Week to Prevent Railroad Strike
Nov 29, 2022 | Jeff DavisThe House of Representatives is expected to vote later this week on legislation imposing a contract settlement on the railroad unions...
Amtrak Year-End Reporting Shows Ongoing Ridership, Expense Problems
Nov 18, 2022 | Jeff DavisA review of Amtrak's final monthly operating report for fiscal year 2022 shows that ridership and revenue on key routes continues to...
Railroad Strike Averted (For Now)
Sep 16, 2022 | Jeff DavisAfter some cajoling from the Biden Administration and an all-night negotiating session, the leaders of the remaining holdout railroad...
President’s Mediators Put Rail Unions On Defense As Possible Strike Looms
Aug 19, 2022 | Jeff DavisA three-person mediation board appointed by President Biden issued its final report on the ongoing railroad labor contract negotiations...
Schedule Set for Possible National Railroad Strike in Mid-September
Jun 17, 2022 | Jeff DavisU.S. freight railroads and their unions took steps this week to enter the final phase of their latest labor negotiation, setting a...
House Lawmakers Debate Freight Rail Labor and Safety Issues
Jun 17, 2022 | Ethan McLeodThe House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this week held a wide-ranging hearing with railroad regulators, labor leaders,...