RAIL SAFETY BILL OF 2008 SIGNED INTO LAW

Summary of final bill
Final bill in its entirety
Timetable on implementing the law
Hours of Service Q and A 11-21-2008

Hours of Service FRA Interpretations Q&A                Federal Register 06-26-2009

FRA EMERGENCY ORDER NO. 26 (CELL PHONES)

NS Bulletins regarding the usage of electronic devices
Final bill in its entirety
Questions and Answers - Electronic Device Usage
WARNING! Conductors/Trainmen - cell phone checks    Tips on complying with FRA Order
 Flow Chart: Cell Phones/Electronic Devices 11-23-08         

Railroad Operating Rules: Program of Operational Tests and Inspections; Railroad Operating Practices: Handling Equipment, Switches and Fixed Derails; Final Rule

Employee Accountability -Law effective 04/14/08  

FRA overview of the law

Commingled Service

Hours of service regarding employee attendance at  rules classes, investigations, physical exams, etc.

Layoffs? NS? Read this. 12-14-08

Railroad Retirement Board        You may be eligible to receive up to $61 per day (increases to $64 July1,2009), with a maximum of 10 days in a 14 day time frame, while either furloughed or marked up, available for service and working less than full time. Please, go to the Railroad Retirement Board's web site for further details, as to eligibility. 02-25-09

Railroad Retirement unemployment benefits extended by the stimulus bill. (click here) 02-25-09

 Click here. That is where you establish your  internet account with the RRB. Once established, you can file for benefits on-line, in the event you need to file a claim for unemployment or sickness benefits. It takes about 10 days to finalize. Don't wait until you need to file for benefits. Do it now. Then, your claims will be able to be processed quicker.                       Login to the Railroad Retirement Board        Unemployment Benefits Sickness Benefits
Locate a Railroad Retirement Board near you
Unemployment/Sickness benefits increase 07/01/2008
Apply for sickness/unemployment benefits ON-LINE
Extra board slow? If you remain marked up and available during the 14 day pay period and you work or are paid for less than 10 days during that period, you may be entitled to $61 per day unemployment benefits for some of those days missed. What must you do? File a claim with the RRB  (Railroad Retirement Board). Do it online. That is why we stress the need for you to establish an internet account with the RRB.        12-12-08 

Deleted the free web site hit counter - did not want visitor's web usage being tracked, with 'cookies'. And, yes, they may do that.

WERIS (Wireless Event Recording Information System)       NS is monitoring trains/engineers by GPS.
(all crafts better read this). Red flag examples: excessive speed, excessive amperage, power braking, independent brake miss-use, emergency and penalty brake applications, too many engines in power and/or dynamic brake, revving engine above #1 throttle to pump brakes, not shutting engines down as required, etc.             

03-06-2009  Digital time pieces, such as, the Timex pictured below, meet the requirements of Norfolk Southern's Operating Rule entitled 'Standard Time' on page 31 of the Operating Rule Book. In accordance with FRA Emergency Order Number 26 and revised NS operating bulletins, such a digital time piece is in conformity with FRA and NS rules. It may be used to verify the time of day and the accuracy of your locomotive speed indicator. As to analogue watches...they must display Arabic numbers, 1 thru 12. They must display hours, minutes and seconds. An analogue watch with the numbers 12, 3, 6, 9 with dots or symbols for the remaining hours is not in conformity. Please be aware that you cannot use the functions of your cell phone for verifying time or speed. Yes, digital watch (time piece), No, cell phone.