• December 28, 2017
• C&S/IT

A Trojan Horse of a different color

Way back in the day … I’m talking way back like 2013, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) was about to award some eager, bright, inquiring minds some money to do a study of the challenges and problems of PTC implementation on commuter railroads. The purpose of the study was to identify these challenges, and develop some iteration of “best practices” that might be of help to other properties facing the challenge of PTC implementation.

• December 19, 2017
• C&S/IT

Remember that?

Anybody else here old enough to remember all the way back to June 2, 2015?

• December 12, 2017
• C&S/IT

Culture wars, Part 3

The National Transportation Safety Board, in its investgation into the April 3, 2016 fatal train accident involving Amtrak train 89 and maintenance-of-way equipment at Chester, Pa., made some damning determinations. I do mean damning, as in “leave your pass with the secretary, clean out your desk, and get off the property” damning.

• November 23, 2017
• C&S/IT

The high price of Freedom of Information

In October, I made a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request to the Federal Railroad Administration for specific information regarding PTC performance on U.S. railroads. I received a reply on Nov. 21:

• November 21, 2017
• C&S/IT

Culture wars, Part 2

Hello, J.D. Congratulations on your retirement. I’ve missed working with you, and the GAS man, and AFF, and all, I mean all the others, all these years.

• November 17, 2017
• C&S/IT

Culture wars, Part 1

I spent three hours viewing the video archive of the Nov. 14, 2017 National Transportation Safety Board meeting convened to review and approve the findings, probable cause and safety recommendations developed from NTSB investigation into the April 3, 2016 collision of Amtrak 89 with M/W equipment at Chester, Pa., on the Northeast Corridor.

• September 27, 2017
• C&S/IT

I have this recurring nightmare …

The Federal Railroad Administration’s new Hours of Service (HOS) app is now available via the iPhone App Store:

• September 25, 2017
• Class I

Timing is everything

Isn’t it, though? Six weeks ago, the Federal Railroad Administration announced it is withdrawing its ANPRM (Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking) regarding testing and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea for safety-sensitive personnel, and then the National Transportation Safety Board opens its dockets on the two bumping post collisions at Hoboken Terminal on NJ Transit and Atlantic Avenue on the Long Island Rail Road.

• September 05, 2017
• Class I

Hedge funds and good railroading don’t compute

Knee-jerks are part of business, one of the risks of doing business. As for knees, like most people, I have two of them, and as for jerks, I’ve been one, on occasion.

• August 28, 2017
• Class I

OSA: “Voluntary” doesn’t make the grade

A friend and colleague sent the following letter to, among others, Dr. Amanda Emo, Fatigue Program Manager, Risk Reduction Program Division, Office of Safety Analysis, Federal Railroad Administration, regarding obstructive sleep apnea (OSA):