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.

OMAHA, Neb. — Even as railroads are operating longer freight trains that sometimes stretch for miles, the companies have drastically reduced staffing levels, prompting unions to warn that moves meant to increase profits could endanger safety and even result in disasters.

The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a final rule requiring states to develop, or in some cases, update action plans for highway-rail grade crossings.

The automatic braking system Congress is mandating for the country’s railroads is almost implemented on the route miles required by law, according to federal regulators’ most recent update.