UTU News Digest - Thursday, October 7, 1999

UTU Daily News Digest

Information of interest to operating railroad and transportation employees

Thursday, October 7, 1999

OHIO: UTU praises Union Pacific’s investment in new locomotives as good move for operating employees and railroad

CLEVELAND – The announcement by Union Pacific Railroad that it is leasing 1,000 new locomotives is a positive sign that the railroad has turned its operations around and will benefit union operating employees, the United Transportation Union (UTU) said today.

On Wednesday, UP announced a new locomotive replacement program whereby it will lease 1,000 new GM model SD70 locomotives over the next 3-4 years and retire about 1,500 older units. The average age of the UP road fleet will be lowered by five years.

"We welcome this large investment in locomotives as a positive sign for our members," said UTU Assistant President Byron A. Boyd, Jr. "These new locomotives will be equipped with air conditioning and modern restrooms, and will go a long way to making life on the rails a better experience for operating employees."

This is the largest single order for locomotives ever placed with GM’s Electro-Motive -- and the largest order in Union Pacific history. The new model SD70 locomotives are slated to form the core of the Union Pacific fleet.

"UP has taken a very positive step with this locomotive program," added Boyd. "We also hope this helps them in their effort to adapt their company’s culture to the realities of work life in the 21^st century."

ENGLAND: London train crash death toll could pass 70

LONDON -- Fearing the death toll in the London commuter train crash could rise beyond 70, authorities Thursday prepared for the task of sifting through a carriage reduced to a blackened hulk by fire, Dow Jones newswire said.

"The carriage is just a shell," British Transport Police spokesman Tony Thompson said Wednesday. "The whole thing was a complete fireball. We don't know how many people were in there, or if anybody managed to get out."

Twenty-eight people are known to have died when the two packed trains collided at the height of the morning rush hour Tuesday in what will almost certainly turn out to be Britain's worst rail disaster in nearly 50 years. At least 150 people were injured, 14 seriously.

Rescuers worked at the site all day Wednesday, suspending their efforts at nightfall and awaiting the arrival Thursday of a 100-ton crane capable of moving and stabilizing the burned-out carriage.

Seventy people who are known to have boarded the trains had not been accounted for by late Wednesday. The 28 bodies may be from among that number.

Police said they had received the names of an additional 100 people whose relatives said they might have been on the trains. They appealed to anyone who survived the crash to let authorities know they were safe.

Authorities promised a swift and thorough investigation. The crash occurred on the same stretch of track where a 1997 crash killed seven people and injured 150. Great Western, which operated one of the trains that crashed Tuesday, had been fined $2.47 million for "dereliction of duty" in connection with the earlier crash.

The train companies said their investigation would focus on the outbound Thames Trains service, which may have gone through a red light.

The London-bound Great Western train had a green light to proceed, according to a statement Wednesday by Great Western, Thames Trains and Railtrack Group PLC (U.RTK), the company that operates the rail infrastructure.

Signals in the vicinity were in working order, the statement said.

Great Western is run by FirstGroup PLC (U.FGP) and Thames Trains by Go-Ahead Group PLC (U.GOG).

Newspapers reported Thursday that the 31-year-old driver of the Thames train qualified as a driver just two months ago after 11 months in training. Both drivers were killed in the crash.

One of two data recorders from the Thames train was reportedly found, but it was believed no data recorders were on the Great Western train.

The train companies said they were studying a signal at the Paddington station that the drivers' union has said isn't visible at some points. The union, ASLEF, said there have been at least eight incidents of trains going through red lights at the signal since 1993.

The Great Western train originated in Cheltenham, western England. The Thames train, westbound for nearby Bedwyn, had just pulled out of the station when the two collided.

Thirty-one people are now known to have died when the two commuter trains collided at the height of the morning rush hour Tuesday. At least 150 people were injured, 14 seriously.

Police said Thursday that a scaffold would be erected around a severely burned first-class carriage where a number of people are believed to have died.

The scaffold is intended to support the wreckage to protect police and salvage workers, and to afford a degree of privacy, said Superintendent Tony Thompson of British Transport Police.

ENGLAND: UK rail firms must foot safety bill after crash

LONDON -- The British government vowed Thursday to make private railway firms pay to upgrade safety systems as the death toll from Tuesday's crash leapt to 70, whipping up public outcry, Reuters reported.

The popular Sun tabloid said Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister John Prescott should tell the nation what he would do to sort out the much-maligned railway system or resign.

Prescott placed the burden of funding safety upgrades on private industry, saying it would have to fork out the one billion pounds ($1.7 billion) it is estimated an automatic train protection system (ATP) would cost.

"I have no doubt where it (the money) can come from...it will be industry, I don't think there necessarily has to be a charge on government,'' he told BBC radio.

ATP, which prevents trains from going though a red light, was recommended after 35 people were killed in a train crash at London's Clapham Junction in 1988.

At least 70 people were killed Tuesday when a high-speed train smashed into a local commuter train near Paddington station in London but there are fears the final tally could be much higher, as 100 people are still unaccounted for.

They were believed to have been on the doomed trains but police said some might have returned home without informing police they were safe.

Britain's worst crash in almost half a century has turned a harsh spotlight on what many see as a ramshackle and underfunded rail system.

There have been reports that a key danger signal at the fatal intersection was difficult for drivers to see and allegations that safety recommendations were ignored.

Railway authorities said the smaller of the two trains involved in Tuesday morning's rush-hour crash went through a red light seconds before smashing into the larger First Great Western train. They said signaling equipment was in full working order.

They said drivers had ignored red lights eight times in the past six years at the intersection.

Tuesday's crash was the second in two years on the same stretch of line and train drivers say Signal 109 was badly positioned and difficult to see.

Angry rail workers have threatened to strike unless rail companies agree within a week to discuss plans for the introduction of more advanced safety equipment.

The head of the rail safety watchdog said it was too early to be sure the driver passed a red signal.

Vic Coleman, the chief inspector of railways for the government-run Health and Safety Executive, said he hoped to have an interim report on Prescott's desk within 24 hours.

"I can't confirm that this is a signal passed at danger. To my mind we need to have the results of some further tests on signaling equipment and I don't think anyone can be sure at this stage that that is in fact the immediate cause.''

The government has ordered an independent review of safety and a public inquiry to be headed by Scottish judge Lord Douglas Cullen, who led the investigation into the Piper Alpha oil rig fire, which killed 167 in 1988.

The Labour government, which inherited a rail network privatized by the previous Conservative administration, has said that if a government inquiry recommended the installation of ATP, it would press ahead to install it.

Tuesday's crash was Britain's worst train disaster since 1956, when 90 people were killed in a two-train collision in Lewisham, southeast London.

CALIFORNIA: Short Lines laud rail freight planning bill

NAPA -- A new law that for the first time includes California's freight railroads in the state's 10-year Rail Plan was welcomed today by the California Short Line Railroad Association, which represents 29 smaller railroads operating nearly 30 percent of the track in the state, a press release by the Short Line Railroad Association said.

"Finally, California freight railroads will be recognized as part of our state's transportation system," said California Short Line Railroad Association President David Parkinson.

Prior to Assembly Bill No. 74, which Governor Gray Davis signed in September, rail transportation planning in California focused solely on passenger, commuter and mass transit services.

"This is important legislation to assure that California's goal of an integrated transportation system has true meaning," Parkinson said. "This is not just a railroad industry bill; this legislation is tied to the future economic growth and competitiveness of California industry."

"Freight trains have an important role in California," said Parkinson. "They are three times more fuel-efficient than trucks while emissions from locomotives are one-third per ton-mile of freight hauled. In addition, a railroad car typically handles three times more freight than the average large truck."

Parkinson lauded the efforts of Assemblywoman Virginia Strom-Martin, D-Duncan Mills, who authored AB 74. "Ms. Strom-Martin recognizes the important role of freight rail in California's transportation system. We appreciate her hard work in this successful legislative effort."

Parkinson also commended Governor Davis "for recognizing the importance of this legislation, which sets the stage for a partnership between railroads and the state in providing a multi-modal transportation system."

The California Short Line Railroad Association worked closely with Strom-Martin in developing the legislation and gathering support from community and industry leaders.

According to Parkinson, "California is behind most of the nation in recognizing the value and importance of its freight railroad system and short line railroads in particular." He noted that short lines operate more than 1,750 miles of railroad in the state, or 28 percent of the total mileage. "These short line railroads divert some 600,000 truckloads off local roads and state highways, reducing congestion and air pollution," Parkinson noted.

A study by the state of Washington revealed that each mile of short line railroad can save from $17,000-to-$63,000 annually in highway resurfacing or reconstruction costs. He estimated that California's short lines are saving state, county and local governments an estimated $25 million a year in highway maintenance expense.

Meanwhile, the U.S. railroad industry is quickly moving toward larger, heavier capacity freight cars with a gross weight of 286,000 pounds, which is 10 percent greater than current equipment. These increased weights will require many California short lines to make substantial capital expenditures to strengthen bridges, replace rail and install new crossties, according to Parkinson.

"Many other states are assisting their smaller railroads with low-cost loans and other funding assistance to help pay for necessary rehabilitation projects," Parkinson noted. "An effective freight rail plan in California should lead to more specific programs aimed at the state's freight rail system, thereby reducing congestion and exhaust emissions for the citizens of California through better utilization of their rail transportation system."

VIRGINIA: Overnight files defamation suit vs. Teamsters

RICHMOND -- Union Pacific Corp.'s (UNP) Overnite Transportation Co. unit sued the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in Texas state court for defamation, Dow Jones newswires reported.

In a press release Wednesday, Overnite said the lawsuit alleges the union published campaign literature that falsely claimed Overnite was found guilty of labor law violations by the National Labor Relations Board, that the NLRB had issued more than 1,000 complaint against Overnite, and that the company had been forced to pay tens of millions of dollars for alleged wrongdoing.

Overnite said these false statements harmed its reputation and is seeking "significant" damages from the union.

In a separate action, Overnite sued Teamsters spokesman David Cameron in a Virginia state court for making similarly defamatory comments in a press release.

The Teamsters have been attempting to organize Overnite employees since 1994. On Oct. 1, the union accepted Overnite's proposal for a nationwide vote on union representation.

The Teamsters have been attempting to organize Overnite, the nation's sixth largest less-than-truckload carrier, since 1994. During the campaign the Teamsters have employed what labor experts call a "corporate campaign," where the union, among other things, attempts to discredit a company without regard to the truth of its message.

MICHIGAN: UAW gives Ford strike deadline

DETROIT -- The United Auto Workers set a strike deadline of 3:30 p.m. Friday against Ford Motor Co., saying it would not extend its contract beyond then -- a sign talks could be intensifying, the Associated Press reported.

Negotiations on a new contract to cover about 100,000 employees are continuing.

"We feel this is a normal part of the collective bargaining process," Ford spokesman Edward Miller said. "Our negotiations are continuing in good faith, and we believe we can reach an agreement."

The UAW negotiated new contracts with DaimlerChrysler AG, General Motors Corp. and GM's former parts unit without setting a strike deadline.

UAW President Stephen P. Yokich said earlier this week he expected Ford to accept the same contract terms the UAW agreed to with DaimlerChrysler AG and General Motors Corp.

DaimlerChrysler workers ratified their agreement last month, while GM and Delphi workers are scheduled to finish voting by Oct. 10.

According to the union, the four-year contracts with DaimlerChrysler, GM and Delphi Automotive Systems give workers an annual raise of 3 percent a year, a $1,350 signing bonus and improved cost of living adjustments.

The companies also agreed not to spin off any division into a separate business or close or sell any factories. That clause was expected to create some problems for Ford, which has plans to spin off or sell its Visteon parts unit.

UAW leaders have been vigorously opposed to a spin-off of Visteon, which has about 23,500 UAW members, saying it could lead to pay cuts, plant closures and fewer union jobs. During the Labor Day parade in Detroit, many marchers carried signs depicting Visteon as "the alien within" Ford.

A strike at Ford would be a sharp reversal of the company's relations with the UAW. Ford was the lead company in negotiations in 1993 and 1996. The last time the union held a national strike against Ford was 1976 -- during contract negotiations.

WASHINGTON: Mass transit to get first Y2K test

WASHINGTON -- Transportation officials are uneasy about the readiness of mass transit systems for the year 2000, because huge New Year's Eve celebrations will send thousands of revelers toward public transportation just minutes after computers make the date change, the Associated Press reported.

If a Y2K bug paralyzes subway nervous systems or the electrical supply that runs trains in cities such as Boston, New York and Washington, operators will have virtually no time to make repairs or warn incoming riders.

French officials will stop all trains and subway cars in France between 11:55 p.m. and 12:15 a.m. to "respond to the anxiety'' of passengers, said a statement issued Monday by SNCF, the national train company.

Some U.S. operators, such as the Chicago Transit Authority, will conduct similar pauses. Federal officials think it's a prudent step.

"Rather than take any risk, they feel five minutes out of their schedule, with each train stopping in the station, would be a useful precaution,'' Mortimer Downey, deputy transportation secretary, said last week at a congressional hearing about the readiness of transportation systems for millennium change.

The so-called Year 2000 problem poses a special problem for mass transit because it will strike at the intersection of two unavoidable realities: the test of Y2K computer fixes at precisely the moment some transportation systems will be taxed by larger-than-usual crowds.

Some older computers were programmed to recognize dates in two-digit format, so the question emerges what will happen when 1999 - recognized by those computers as simply "99'' - changes to 2000. Computers may malfunction and think the clock has been set back to 1900 instead of forward to 2000.

At that moment, New Year's Eve parties will be reaching their climax. Crowds urged to use public transportation as a way to avoid traffic will head for the nearest bus, subway station or railroad terminal.

Washington officials expect up to 800,000 riders that night on their Metro subway system, many of them attracted to the Lincoln Memorial for a millennium party hosted by entertainer Will Smith.

Boston is expecting 2 million for its First Night celebration, an increase of 500,000 people from a normal year, while Times Square in New York is expected to be a mecca for millennium buffs.

A Federal Transit Administration survey found that of 550 federally funded operators - including bus, subway and commuter rail providers - all but four said they are either Y2K compliant or have contingency plans. The remaining four, all in Puerto Rico, either did not respond or responded incorrectly.

Major subway operators insist they and their equipment suppliers have done all the tests they can do. Privately, some say they're not sure about the reliability of their electricity suppliers.

"We will have a number of technical people available. However, we've been assured by our contractors and subcontractors that they have met all the challenges to ensure a smooth transition,'' said Tom Kelly, spokesman for New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

"We came through the 9-9-99 with no problem, and people said that might be an issue,'' said Cheryl Johnson, a Washington Metro spokeswoman. Analysts had feared that Sept. 9, with its lineup of 9's, would seize computer brains.

Amtrak and commuter railroads also insist their trains are ready, but many have their own Achilles heel: they operate on tracks owned by freight railroads. The four largest freight lines in the country - Burlington Northern Santa Fe, CSX, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific - won't report their Y2K readiness until next week.

Rail experts say the public should not worry, since older subway cars and many locomotives are not computerized. Equipment such as grade crossing signals is tripped not by time and date information but by mechanical switches thrown by an approaching train.

Yet last month, Washingtonians got a hint of their subway's vulnerability. For the first time in 20 years, a computer that monitors every train in the Metro system froze just before the start of the morning rush hour. It caused delays of up to 50 minutes.

Metro officials said the problem was not Y2K-related.

WASHINGTON: Bill imperils truck safety program

WASHINGTON (AP) - Government enforcement of truck safety activities would stop temporarily if President Clinton were to sign a new spending bill for the Transportation Department, a top regulator said.

Julie Anna Cirillo, director of the Office of Motor Carriers, told senior staffers in a memo Monday that "no work will be done on any enforcement action. I will not be issuing any final orders.''

Inspections, including border checks, will continue without interruption, as will the OMC's other main function, compliance reviews of carriers' operations, a department spokesman said Wednesday.

Congress earlier this week passed a $50 billion transportation-spending bill for fiscal 2000. One provision bars the Federal Highway Administration, the parent agency of the OMC, from spending any funds on motor carrier safety.

President Clinton is expected to sign the bill into law.

The provision was inserted by OMC critics who contend the office has been too close to the trucking industry, impeding regulators' ability to address the problem of truck-related traffic accidents.

Some 5,300 people are killed each year in accidents involving trucks, and the administration has pledged to cut that number in half.

The House Transportation Committee, led by the chairman, Rep. Bud Shuster, R-Pa., planned hearings Thursday on whether the provision has created a safety vacuum because existing laws stipulate that only the OMC can carry out safety enforcement functions.

Bill Schulz, spokesman for the Transportation Department, said it was true that the bulk of Federal Highway Administration highway safety work will have to be transferred to as-yet-undetermined other offices in the department.

Enforcement action would be suspended until the legal issue is settled, but "we will make every effort to enforce highway safety laws despite this action,'' he said.

The Cirillo memo informed staff that they would be transferred "en masse'' to the new organizational unit, while members of the enforcement teams will be reassigned to perform other duties.

OREGON: Greenbrier wins order for 1,000 railcars

LAKE OSWEGO -- The Greenbrier Companies (NYSE: GBX) today announced a new order from TTX Company for 1,000 89-foot flatcars to be built at the company's TrentonWorks facility in Nova Scotia, Canada. The flatcar order extends the total production run of this railcar type for TTX to 3,500 units, a portion of which has already been built.

The Greenbrier Companies, headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon, is a leading supplier of intermodal and conventional transportation equipment and services to the railroad industry in North America. Greenbrier builds new railroad freight cars in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico and repairs and refurbishes freight cars and wheels at nine locations across North America. At Greenbrier's Portland, Oregon manufacturing facility, it builds ocean-going barges for the maritime industry. In Europe, Greenbrier has acquired a controlling interest in Polish freight car builder, WagonySwidnica. Greenbrier owns or manages a fleet of approximately 33,000 railcars.