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After more than three years of negotiations and mediation, the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corp. (DM&E) and United Transportation Union (UTU) have reached a tentative agreement.

The pact calls for wage increases and bonuses, according to the union.

"Our main objective was a quality of life provision for road crews, which we achieved," said UTU Assistant President Arty Martin in a prepared statement.

Meanwhile, the DM&E announced it appointed John Brooks vice president of marketing and sales for the regional and sister railroad the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad Corp. (IC&E). He succeeds Lynn Anderson, who retired.

Brooks most recently served IC&E as assistant VP of marketing-general merchandise. He previously was the regional's senior marketing manager. Prior to IC&E, Brooks held various marketing positions at Union Pacific Railroad and I&M Rail Link, which the DM&E acquired in 2002.

The DM&E and IC&E operate a network totaling 2,500 miles of track in eight upper Midwest states.