Catherwood LibraryILR School

Various freight railroad companies have conducted layoffs in recent years as company management shifts to leaner operations. This change in operations has resulted in longer trains that require fewer workers, locomotives, and railcars. Layoffs at BNSF Railway that occurred earlier this week, as well as layoffs at Union Pacific last year, have prompted widespread discussion on the impact that these operational changes have on service quality and safety of freight trains. Companies have stated that the changes have increased efficiency, but opponents of the changes claim that the adjustments increase short-run profits but harm the railroad industry in the long run. The Transportation Trades Department labor coalition sent a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration calling for stricter inspections of railroad companies to ensure that the necessary repairs are conducted.