Under terms of the grant program, FRA will pay no more than 80% of a project’s cost, with a minimum 20% match that can include in-kind contributions.

Norfolk Southern sparked renewed concerns about flaws being missed during railcar inspections when it told employees this week they should spend no more than a minute looking at each car. 

Most of the money will go to track and bridge upgrades. Some will be used to bolster training and explore cleaner-burning alternatives to the diesel the rail industry has long relied on.

BNSF is generally striving to improve safety, but that message doesn’t always reach workers who often don’t feel comfortable reporting safety concerns, according to an assessment.

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific managers undermined the U.S. government’s efforts to assess safety at the railroad in the wake of several high-profile derailment, federal regulators say.

OMAHA, Neb. — BNSF will become the second major freight railroad to allow some of its employees to report safety concerns anonymously through a federal system without fear of discipline.

Major freight railroads will have to maintain two-person crews on most routes under a new federal rule that was finalized April 2.

OMAHA, Neb. — About 1,000 engineers and conductors who work for Norfolk Southern soon will be able to report safety concerns anonymously through a federal system without fear of discipline.

OMAHA, Neb. — Norfolk Southern made recent improvements but is nowhere near the “gold standard for safety” it is striving to be, according to federal regulators.

Funding for rail safety operations around the country was recently announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation.