Union Leaders Demand Enhanced Rail Safety and Staffing at CSX Rigby Yard in South Portland
Union leaders are urging CSX to improve safety measures and restore personnel at Rigby Yard in South Portland, Maine, following recent train derailments. At a press conference, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) stated that Rigby Yard, the largest rail yard in New England, no longer employs union yardmasters. These yardmasters are crucial for monitoring train movements and coordinating emergency responses. Dave Stevenson, New England legislative director for SMART, questioned the absence of a single point of contact for emergency services like the South Portland Fire Department. CSX, which acquired the property in 2022, countered that it has "managers of train operations" providing 24/7 coverage for operations and emergency response, and that yardmasters were not present when they took over. The union's call for increased staffing comes after two CSX train derailments in the past month, one in Orono, Maine, and another in Worcester, Massachusetts, tho... 
