SMART Local 202

The FRA has abdicated its role in safety. Read on to see how this once-trusted and neutral regulator has made it clear that they are only interested in helping America’s railroads achieve their Wall Street mandates, despite the obvious and known risks. https://www.smart-union.org/fra-picked-a-side-and-its-not-railroaders-or-rail-safety/

https://therealnews.com/three-years-later-life-in-east-palestine-ohio-is-still-derailed

Three years later, life in East Palestine, Ohio, is still derailed While corporate payouts have flowed, most East Palestine families still haven’t seen a dime.

https://www.denverpost.com/2026/01/22/front-range-passenger-rail-trains-voters-rtd-funding-polis-ballot/

A train from Denver to Fort Collins? Front Range could vote on funds to launch intercity passenger rail in November “We don’t want Colorado to be like California, where you have 16-lane highways and at rush hour you cannot get anywhere.”

Here is a conservative and fair snapshot of what railroading paid at a Class I railroad in 2024. It doesn’t rely on overtime assumptions or best-case scenarios. It is just complete, verifiable data. So when you're at the bar and hear the longshoremen bragging about the $65/per hour they are going to make in 2030, just know that you were pulling in $73.16 two years ago and have had two raises since. https://www.smart-union.org/what-does-73-16-hour-actually-mean/

The constant drive to climb the ladder (and to avoid being fired) felt by railroad managers almost always translates into scare tactics that keep workers silent and the big bosses oblivious to reality. The FRA had a solution. Read on to learn why it was scrapped, and how things are probably going to get much worse before they get any better. https://www.smart-union.org/the-safety-program-that-works-and-why-railroads-wont-use-it/

https://www.progressiverailroading.com/federal_legislation_regulation/news/House-Democrats-want-UP-NS-to-explain-mergers-impact-on-workers--76186?fbclid=IwdGRjcAPfIARleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEehEm0SOKcpkVHHl7HnkinT-RUHrZ9ylXBBWzpD7O4Af_L03KgwejJ1VYSNQA_aem_M6TzDUiUtpQR63rPRDV2PA

Rail News - House Democrats want UP-NS to explain merger's impact on workers. For Railroad Career Professionals Railroad industry news about: Surface Transportation Board, Union Pacific Railroad, Norfolk Southern Railway, proposed merger's impact on labor, U.S. House Democrats. From the editors of Progressive Railroading Magazine

https://coloradonewsline.com/briefs/tax-measure-for-front-range-passenger-rail-could-appear-on-2026-ballot/

​Tax measure for Front Range passenger rail could appear on 2026 ballot | Colorado Newsline Colorado voters along the Front Range could decide on whether to approve a new tax this year to help fund passenger rail service between Fort Collins and Pueblo.

FRA moves to reestablish Railroad Safety Advisory Committee - Trains WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration has moved to reestablish the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee, after disbanding it last summer. The organization, which advises the FRA on safety matters, has had its charter reestablished via a notice published in the Federal Register on Jan. 13....

The Union Pacific merger with Norfolk Southern has been delayed, but rest assured that our Jobs for Life agreement is still in place: it remains tied to the process. Read on for details about the rejection of their initial merger application. https://www.smart-union.org/jobs-still-protected-after-merger-delay/

The Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act is a new bill that promises to make the assault or intimidation of passenger rail workers a federal crime, bringing rail protections in line with long-standing federal laws safeguarding airline flight crews. Read on to learn why SMART-TD is excited for the bill, and why it should be expanded to include bus operators as well. https://www.smart-union.org/federal-protection-for-train-crews-promised-by-passenger-rail-crew-protection-act/

As the third anniversary of the East Palestine, Ohio derailment approaches, SMART-TD has endorsed the Under Pressure Act. Introduced Jan. 15, 2026, the bipartisan bill is an important step in safely responding to tank cars involved in a derailment. Read on to learn why this is important for us all. https://www.smart-union.org/new-rail-safety-bill-addresses-east-palestine-vent-and-burn-failures/