Summer 2001
Volume 108 - No. 2
Summer 2001
Volume 108 - No. 2
News Clips
"The ARC has rolled out a murky series of option and rationales for its ideological agenda, when it should have called on Congress and the President to fully fund Amtrak and give it a real chance to be viable. The restructuring proposals put forth in the report are radical, unnecessary and could cause more harm than good to the cause of intercity passenger service." - BLE International President Edward Dubroski, on the Amtrak Reform Council's release of its second annual report. Progressive Railroading, April 2001, circulation 28,582.
"The National Mediation Board generally functions as a biased, anti-labor agency, working to provide the railroads with agreements which help the railroads and often injure railroad workers. The Board members, with few exceptions, study what helps the railroads and then make decisions to protract bargaining, unless the railroads want quick contracts. If the major railroads want quick agreements, then the National Mediation Board functions expeditiously." - Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes President Mac Fleming, on typical NMB tactics during contract negotiations. BMWE Journal, April 2001, circ. 50,000.
"Lots of shortlines' business depends on their ability to carry cars for Class Is, and if they can supply more cars into the railroad system, it means more trains and more jobs for us. I believe sometime in the future, the Class Is will look for federal funding like H.R. 1020, too." - BLE International Vice-President & U.S. National Legislative Representative Leroy Jones, on H.R. 1020, which would provide $350 million per year for shortlines to make track improvements during fiscal years 2002-2004. Progressive Railroading, April 2001, circ. 28,582.
"It will not be considered with the same degree of seriousness that an actual regulation - a law - would be. I have all the confidence in the world with the people who put the advisory there. I don't have all the confidence in the people who are going to read the advisory, and then turn around and apply it." - BLE Regulatory Research Coordinator Bob Harvey, on the FRA safety advisory which outlined guidelines for remote control use. Progressive Railroading, April 2001, circ. 28,582.
© 2001 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers