CN Railway under-reporting train problems?

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

Chicagoland municipalities are claiming that Canadian National Railway has failed to disclose all of the accidents and delays that occurred earlier this year at their grade crossings. The Regional Answer to Canadian National (TRAC) claims that CN did not account for numerous incidents - at least 18 delays due to gate malfunctions, and a handful of accidents, including a brush fire started from track sparks which caused damage to a building, several trailers, and a vehicle.

Read More

Massachusetts trolley crash may lead to cell phone ban

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

A train trolley crash underneath downtown Boston left 50 passengers injured last Friday. The conductor admitted that he was looking down at the time of the crash as he was texting his girlfriend. Officials are cracking down - the head of the Boston-area transit authority is pushing for a ban on cell phone usage for any employee working aboard mass transit carriers (buses and trains).

Read More

Three family members in train-car collision survive without injuries

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

Three members of a Hannibal, MO family - a father, his 4-year-old daughter, and his 2-year-old son, were headed back from a fishing trip on Tuesday when they began crossing a railroad crossing at the wrong time. Their van was immediately pummeled by an incoming train. Amazingly, though the van was destroyed, no one in the family was injured. The crossing itself is outfitted with flashing lights but no protective gate.

Read More

Iowa man hit on tracks

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

A Waverly, IA man came to a railroad crossing in his vehicle and, neither seeing nor hearing a train (and being prevented by no gate or light), proceeded to cross the track. Sound reasonable? We think so too. There was in fact a train coming, however, and the broadside of his car was struck by the train, inflicting injuries on the man and destroying the vehicle.

Read More

Pennsylvania’s top court upholds rail crossing decision

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

Lebanon and North Lebanon Township appealed a decision requiring them to pay for a crossing gate at a problematic crossing which has been the site of several deadly vehicle-train collisions. Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied the appeal, to the shock of the two municipalities' officials. Norfolk Southern denied that they had any responsibility to pay for crossing gates (historical amnesia? logical blunder? creative corporate ploy? - likely a mix of all three). The decision might prove significant for Pennsylvania.

Read More

Metrolink plans for safety improvements

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

The tragic Metrolink crash in Chatsworth prompted several officials to wake up to the serious and real safety issues present in the railroad industry. While most railroad companies have yet to lift a finger, safety changes and legislation are in the making. Given a history of false promises and repeated dodging of the issues on the part of railroad companies, promises of safety improvements are only to be taken seriously if steps are taken that are realistic and concrete yet extreme enough to actually help bring about change.

Read More

Responsibilities at crossings?

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

A dangerous crossing in Brewton, AL has prompted a lot of confusion about just whose responsibility it is to implement adequate safety devices at a crossing. A study in 2006 concluded that safety devices at the crossing could prove crucial to saving lives. Three years later, just two weeks ago, a deadly collision between a log truck and a CSX train caused thousands of dollars in damage. Now the town is left wondering why no one bothered to build the safety devices after 3 years.

Read More

Haralson-1

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

"As an attorney who has litigated railroad crossing cases since 1966, I can honestly say that Mr. Pottroff is the most effective attorney in the country in the area of railroad highway grade crossing litigation."

Read More

Miller-1

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

"I have been impressed by [Mr. Pottroff's] enthusiasm, commitment, and determination... since the day I met him."

Read More

johnson-1

By Pottroff & Karlin LLC | railroad news

"I have known many advcoates who have been willing to take up causes but have known none more willing to invest the amount of time, sweat, and energy for purely altruistic endeavors as characterizes Mr. Pottroff."

Read More