Public Rail Now

Brightline, ya gotta do better. "Last year, the train hit and killed 41 people."
#publicrailnow
archive.ph/hNL8z

Op-Ed: The Norfolk Southern–Union Pacific Merger Is Wrong for Rail — Streetsblog USA This advocacy organization argues it's time to reject Wall Street's massive power grab and re-nationalize America's rails — before it's too late.

Monopolies hurt workers and consumers; the railroad merger is no different.
#publicrailnow

Advocates: The Senate's Chance to Ensure America's Public Transit Future Is Now — Streetsblog USA Congress is in the process of writing America's next big transportation bill — and more than 100 organizations are demanding it deliver for transit.

A Senate committee has a rare opportunity to radically reshape public transportation in America – and advocates across the country are demanding that they seize it before it's too late.

Episode 11: UPNS merger with Nick Wurst Public Rail Now is happy to welcome back Railroad Workers United general secretary and SMART-TD member Nick Wurst to talk about the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger. Adam and Nick discuss the way...

We are happy to welcome back RWU general secretary and SMART-TD member Nick Wurst to talk about the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger. Adam and Nick discuss the ways the merger will impact railroad workers, trackside communities, shippers, and more. #RailMerger #publicrailnow #peopleoverprofit

This weekend, people everywhere are taking a stand to Invest, Expand, and Defend Amtrak.
Find a rally near you: actionnetwork.org/event_campai...

Bring a sign, bring your friends, and let’s show Congress that passenger rail is a public right!
#RallyforAmtrak #publicrailnow #rail #amtraktrain

This weekend, people everywhere are taking a stand to Invest, Expand, and Defend Amtrak.
Find a rally near you: actionnetwork.org/event_campai...

Bring a sign, bring your friends, and let’s show Congress that passenger rail is a public right!
#RallyforAmtrak #publicrailnow #rail #amtraktrain

Union Pacific CEO advises Trump on National Guard deployments - Trains President Donald Trump, in an appearance on Fox & Friends this morning, praised Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena and said the railroader offered suggestions on where the administration should call up the Na...

This is disturbing. Guess just about anyone can advise the prez on military actions these days.

#bootlickers

Episode 10: “The Fight for Life on Earth” with Charles Stevenson On this episode, Adam talks with doctoral researcher Charles Stevenson about degrowth, neoliberalism, nationalization, and much more. Listen here on YouTube or on Spotify For more information about RE...

Adam talks with doctoral researcher Charles Stevenson about degrowth, neoliberalism, nationalization, and much more.
For more information about REAL - A Post Growth Deal, please visit realpostgrowth.eu.
Charles will also have articles coming out at rupture.ie, so keep an eye out!

A two person crew would have avoided the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster that vaporized 47 humans in 2013.
It is surprising how little it takes to buy a politician. Between 2024, Class 1s spent 24K on this dudes campaigns. At least that is what was reported.

Watchdog Group: EPA surveilled social media EAST PALESTINE — Instead of looking out for the residents impacted by the 2023 train derailment, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) used resources to look into the social media movement...

Rather than spending money to help clean up the toxins in East Palestine, the government surveilled the citizens asking for help.
Shameful.

Rail News - BLET strike authorization vote underway at LIRR. For Railroad Career Professionals Progressive Railroading Daily News

#strikesolidarity
The engineers have not received a raise since April 16, 2022, BLET officials said. A contract dispute has been in National Mediation Board (NMB)-sponsored mediation since February 2024.

Federal government to markedly increase number of inspectors trained to spot rail bridge concerns The Transportation Department is going to train 163 track inspectors to dramatically increase the number of people who know how to spot critical problems with railroad bridges, but the railroads thems...

USDOT will train 163 new inspectors.
There are only seven Federal Railroad Administration employees trained to assess bridges, although their primary responsibility is to review each railroad’s inspection plan to make sure they have a good plan in place and that won’t change.

Rail News - NTSB calls for collision avoidance tech on rail maintenance vehicles. For Railroad Career Professionals Progressive Railroading Daily News

NTSB called on railroads to equip roadway maintenance machines with collision avoidance technology that can detect people or objects before a crash.
The Carriers will fight it- betcha a beer.

Even the lobbying arm of the rail industry supports RRB's request of $176.6million. The money comes from payroll taxes paid by the employers and employees, so why is Congress being stingy?
ble-t.org/take-action/...

More new lines approved in China China's National Development and Reform Commission has approved the project to build a 222.8km high-speed line from Shanghai to Hangzhou.

222.8km high-speed line from Shanghai to Hangzhou...foamers be foaming.
This is what happens when you spend money on infrastructure and not military.

Hundreds expected to rally for train driver 'sacked without reason' HUNDREDS are expected to rally today at a mass-picket for a train driver “sacked without reason,” after no less than 30 trade union general secretaries wrote to Hull Trains backing his union Aslef’s s...

Chronic fatigue is an issue US railroaders face, too. Showing up in solidarity for our union brothers and sisters is the way forward for the working class struggle and our rights.
#workersolidarity

Chicago-based Amtrak trains are running out of seats | High Speed Rail Alliance

"For Chicago-based state-supported routes, the load factor for the nine months ending in June 2025 rose to 48.3%, up from 42.9% over the same period the year prior."
Please send more train cars asap.

The Labor Movement Is in a Fight for Its Existence Against a Neofascist Threat For unions to survive, they must embrace antifascism.

"Neofascism (or ​“postfascism”) has emerged as an outgrowth of loosely entwined right-wing populist movements. In some cases, neofascism arose through a revolt against the impact of neoliberalism, and in other cases as revolt against the welfare state."

The Fifth Circuit Ruled That the NLRB Is Unconstitutional The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with SpaceX earlier this week, ruling that the National Labor Relations Board’s current structure is unconstitutional. The decision will keep the agency hamstr...

NLRB is unconstitutional??? Nothing like siding with multibillionaires....

New report details the benefits of unions to workers, communities, and democracy A new Economic Policy Institute report documents the strong correlation between higher levels of unionization and a range of economic, personal, and democratic well-being measures. In the same way uni...

Unionization varies widely by state—ranging from 3.0% in South Carolina to 25.5% in Hawaii. The report finds a range of benefits in the 17 states with the highest union density, including higher incomes, greater access to insurance, education, sick leave and fewer voting restrictions.

Opinion | Trump Is Wiping Out Unions. Why Are They So Quiet?

Labor unions are losing members left and right, but now we are getting contracts ripped out of workers hands. What can we do to stop the carnage on unions?

Buffett: Berkshire will not bid for CSX or Norfolk Southern - Trains OMAHA, Neb. — BNSF Railway wants to date CSX — but has no interest in getting married. Five days after Union Pacific announced its $85 billion deal to acquire Norfolk Southern, Berkshire Hathaway Chai...

Will see if he holds to it in a year or two after the others merge.

NCCC, BRS Reach Tentative National Agreement The National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) on Aug. 26 reported reaching a tentative national agreement with the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS).

Once upon a time, healthcare was covered by the carriers. Now some of us pay remarkable contributions to third party vendors for healthcare options. I wish we only paid $277- that is a steal.
I guess count our blessings we still have access to healthcare?
www.railwayage.com/freight/clas...

I guess we will see how this turns out.

BNSF must face US EEOC lawsuit alleging hostility toward women at Nebraska railyard A federal appeals court on Thursday revived a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit accusing BNSF Railway of allowing a severe and pervasive hostile work environment toward women in a western Nebraska railyard.

A federal appeals court on Thursday revived a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit accusing BNSF Railway of allowing a severe and pervasive hostile work environment toward women in a western Nebraska railyard.

Rail News - Coalition: Survey shows support for California high-speed rail. For Railroad Career Professionals Progressive Railroading Daily News

a new poll finds that 62% of registered voters in the state — and 80% of Democrats — support continuing to build the project, according to the U.S. High Speed Rail coalition.

Transportation Trades Division, AFL-CIO (TTD), the largest transportation labor federation in the U.S., contends this blame is misplaced.

“You need to actually have meetings,” TTD president Greg Regan told the Prospect. “The agency has to set the agenda, call the meetings, and ask for input.”

Transportation Department Quietly Disbands Advisory Committees Labor groups representing railroaders worry the move could muzzle frontline worker voices and make it easier for industry to shape regulation.

"a DOT spokesperson claimed the panels 'are long overdue for a refresh,' adding they 'have lost sight of the mission' and are overrun with individuals whose sole focus is their radical DEI and climate agenda.”
#laughable
Transportation Trades Division, AFL-CIO (TTD),

Rail News - Industry reacts to Trump's ouster of STB member Primus. For Railroad Career Professionals Progressive Railroading Daily News

“This move will hinder the board’s ability to carry out its duties in a dispassionate and apolitical fashion—a task made all the more critical given the proposed mega-merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern," Mathews said.

Supply chain crisis will 'get a lot worse' with rail mega-merger: Railroad workers explain “The robber barons of the 19th century never dreamed of having this much power. And here we are today, potentially on the threshold of allowing a mega merger… the likes of which we’ve never seen.”

"...the remaining two class one railroads, BNSF and CSX would be forced to amalgamate as well, resulting in just four major rail corporations controlling not just the industry but the infrastructure as well. Upwards of 90% of the rail traffic of NA will be controlled by these four corporations."