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Reports on an announcement by U.S. Federal Railroad Administration acting chief Betty Monro that she has decided to retire at the end of December 2004. Details of two federal investigations being conducted into the agency's oversight of rail safety; Contents of a series of articles in "The New York Times" newspaper that prompted an investigation by the inspector general, Kenneth M. Mead; Statement issued by Monro regarding the inspector general's investigation.

Reports on the procedures to be instituted by the federal agency overseeing railroad safety, the Federal Railroad Administration, requiring railroads to call the National Response Center to report fatal grade crossing accidents immediately. Investigators to be dispatched by the agency to the scene while the evidence is fresh; Identification of cases that have not been promptly reported.

The article discusses the United States Federal Railroad Administration's plans to announce a partnership with technology company Google that will use Google's mapping technology to prevent railroad crossing accidents. Topics addressed include Google's plans to provide locations for all grade crossings in the Google Maps application, the increasing use of smartphones for directions; and a trend of increasing railroad accidents n the U.S.

The article discusses the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration's review of New York's Metro-North Railroad as of March 13, 2014, highlighting its findings of a deficient safety culture at the railroad. Topics addressed include the role of a derailment of a Metro-North train in December of 2013 in leading to the federal investigation, railroad workers' emphasis on punctuality of train service over safety, and changes to Metro-North's policies since the derailment.

The article reports that the investigations to the crash of the New Jersey Transit on September 29, 2016 reveals that the railroad is under investigation for safety violations by the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration that started in June 2016.

The article reports on the extension given to Federal Railroad Administration by the U.S. Congress to install speed control system from end of 2018 to end of 2020 mention in the transportation law signed on December 4, 2015.

The article discusses new railroad track safety standards created by the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration to prevent railroad accidents, after finding a broken rail as cause of an oil train derailment in West Virginia, which include more robust tank cars and lower speed limits for crude oil.

The article offers information on the performance of Sarah Feinberg, nominated as acting administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration in the U.S. by President Barack Obama.

The article reports on Cannonball, a Long Island Rail Road train that travels nonstop to the Hampstons. New York in a free first-come first-serve basis, which spurred by concerns on the part of the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration about overcrowding and safety.

The article reports on the statement from the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration on August 7, 2015 detailing the inability of most freight railroads and passenger trains to meet the deadline in installing the technology that prevents trains from exceeding speed limits and avoid collisions.

The article reports on the safety advisory for passenger railroads issued by the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration on June 9, 2015 which focuses mainly on controlling excessive train speeds, in the wake of major railroad accidents.

The article reports on the report sent by the Metro-North Railroad, a suburban commuter rail service in New York, to the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) which reveals the safety measures taken by the company to prevent accidents.

Several corrections to the articles that was published in previous issues are presented includes an article on additional requirement for railroad construction, an article on the debate about issues of Boy Scouts' and an article on abuse of border agents by U.S. Customs & Border Protection.

The article reports on the emergency order issued by the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration on December 6, 2013 which will require Metro-North Railroad to incorporate two train operators following the railroad's derailment incident in Bronx, New York City.

In a move that could unlock one of the thorniest railroad bottlenecks in the Northeast, the Federal Railroad Administration on Wednesday signed off on a plan to replace the almost century-old Portal Bridge that spans the Hackensack River. The administration approved the final environmental impact statement that clears the way for Amtrak to spend $1.34 billion to build a three-track bridge just north of the Portal Bridge and a two-track span south of the bridge. The project is expected to be completed by 2014. Once the new bridges are finished, the Portal Bridge, built in 1910, will be dismantled. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

There were fewer accidents and deaths involving trains last year, but more railroad incidents involving hazardous materials. Last year, 486 people nationwide were killed after trespassing on railroad lines, compared with 518 deaths in 2006, according to preliminary data released by the Federal Railroad Administration. There were 339 fatalities involving trains and a vehicle, 30 fewer than in 2006. Incidents involving railroad cars that released hazardous materials jumped to 43 reports from 28 in 2006. More trains were carrying ethanol and relatively new technologies used to safely release ethanol, and that probably contributed to the increase, said Joseph Boardman, administrator of the railroad agency. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article reports on a federal inquiry on the crew of a New Jersey Transit train. The inquiry was in response to the death of a man on November 21, 2006, who was dragged by the train after being stuck at its door. According to the findings of the inquiry, the death of the man was caused due to a disabled safety setting by the train's crew. It is mentioned that the inquiry was conducted by the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration.

The article informs that the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration, after several recent derailments, is speeding up the inspection of 1, 300 miles of rail track in New York. The inspection is scheduled for April 2007, and CSX Transportation Inc., which operates the track, could face civil penalties if it is found to have violated safety regulations.

Focuses on the criticism of the U.S. Audit Bureau of Circulations on the railroad management of the Federal Railroad Administration in the U.S. Problems that are faced by the railway industry in the country; Concept of the railroad regulations in the country; View of the U.S. Audit on the management style of the Federal Railroad's former acting chief Betty Monro.

Examines the efforts to prevent accidents at railroad crossings in the U.S. Problems caused by malfunctioning safety signals and gates along railroad tracks; Frequency of accidents in which trains collide with pedestrians and vehicles; Policies of the Federal Railroad Administration which govern safety equipment and the response to accidents; Efforts of the Administration to monitor signal operation and safety procedures.

Focuses on concerns over the enforcement stance of the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration. Position of Betty Monro, who runs the railroad agency; Links between the railroad industry and its federal overseer; Monro's emphasis on partnership as the best way of identifying and fixing safety problems; Questions about whether this closeness has lessened the agency's enforcement edge; Discussion of the multi-layered ties between industry and regulator; Background on the way the agency and Union Pacific worked together to improve Union Pacific's safety record.

Reports that the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration found the CSX railroad company in violation of safety rules in May 2004. Failure of the company to maintain its signals at three intersections causing the death of two people; Rule requiring the repair of broken signals in a timely manner.

Reports that the director of the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration, Allan Rutter, has said that he would step down in June 2004 to become the deputy executive director of the North Texas Tollway Authority. Previous transportation policy director in Texas when President George W. Bush was governor of the state.

Reports on the plan of the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration to set up a standard on the noise level of the train horn. Number of decibels and minutes recommended for the train horn to be activated.

Reports on the objections to a proposed train-horn rule from the United States Federal Railroad Administration. Number of people who die in collisions at crossings annually; Comments from House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert on the rule; Cost of installing a flashing-signal system on railroads.

Deals with the proposal of the United States Federal Railroad Administration to require train horns to be sounded at all public crossings. Details on the proposal; States opposing the proposal.

Focuses on the safety measures to be taken by Union Pacific Railroad after a 17 day investigation by the Federal Railroad Administration. Reasons for the investigation; Increase number of employees at the railroad; Safety measures to be undertaken;

Announces the Federal Railroad Administration's approval of Amtrak's electrification plan for the line between New Haven and Boston which envisions a high-speed rail service between New York and Boston. Details of the project; Its significance; Controversy over the plans.

Reports that United States regulators plan to inspect all the nation's 200 or so railroad bridges after a November 1996 Amtrak train crash on a moving bridge across New Jersey's Hackensack River. The crash in a Secaucus marsh due to a misaligned rail; When the Federal Railroad Administration will have finished its inspection; Types of defects which will be looked for.

Reports on the Federal Railroad Administration's admission that its inspectors who checked the freight train that derailed in Cajon Pass, California on February 1, 1996 failed to notice that a braking device on the board had broken. Death of two crew members; Agency administrator Jolene Molitoris' testimony before the House of Representatives; Installation of safety devices on trains by end of 1996.

Reports on the New Jersey Transit's implementation of Federal Railroad Administration safety rules on March 5, 1996. Details on the rules; Train collisions during February 1996.

Reports that the US Federal Rail Administration has relaxed a new rule instituted in the wake of two collisions in January 1996 in response to objections from New Jersey Transit. Rule as part of an emergency order issued on February 20, 1996; New Jersey Transit's claim that applying the new rule to all signals would create widespread delays; Details of the train crashes that occurred in January.

Reports on safety advocates including the US National Transportation Safety Board's contention that US Federal Railroad Administration has been lax in imposing railroad safety measures. Changes recommended including stricter construction standards for train cars; Statistics on train traffic volumes; Dangers with pushed trains; Outcome of failure to install mandatory two-brakes.

Reports on the results of investigations conducted by the United States Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regarding the safety and faulty operations practices of Union Pacific Corporation on February 25, 1998 in Washington. Findings of the FRA; Reference to the acquisition of Southern Pacific Railroad by Union Pacific in 1996; Extension of the oversight of Union Pacific's performance by the US Surface Transportation Board.