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Daily Headlines
Freight cars dumped in Mississippi River after BNSF derailment
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, April 21, 2020) NEW YORK — Yesterday morning did not start well for a BNSF crew piloting a freight train along the banks of the Mississippi River in East Dubuque, IA. Rolling through this scenic area, the crew spotted a boulder on...
ADM idles large Nebraska, Iowa corn-based ethanol plants
(Source: Associated Press, April 24, 2020) DES MOINES, Iowa — Ethanol producer ADM said Thursday it is idling production at its corn ethanol plants in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Columbus, Nebraska, furloughing 90 employees in each facility for at least four months. Full...
COVID-19 impacts prompt “RULA-making” at Union Pacific
(Source: Railway Age, April 21, 2020) NEW YORK — Every Union Pacific non-agreement employee has been hit with a RULA—“Required Unpaid Leave of Absence”—consisting of one week of unpaid leave during May, June, July and August; executives and board members will take a...
Amtrak expecting $700 million in losses, ridership down 95 percent during coronavirus pandemic
(Source: Boston Globe, April 24, 2020) BOSTON — Amtrak is expecting at least $700 million in losses with ridership dropping 95 percent across all routes as people abide by social distancing and stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus pandemic, according to company...
New Amtrak CEO William Flynn on what a post-COVID-19 railroad might look like
(Source: Adweek, April 24, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Many companies allow a new CEO to take a few weeks to ease into the job. William Flynn hasn’t had that luxury. Full story: www.adweek.com
U.S. weekly coal carloads fall to over 10-year low
(Source: S&P Global Platts, April 22, 2020) HOUSTON — U.S. coal carload originations fell to a 10-year low 48,423 in the week that ended April 18, down 7.7% from 52,468 a week earlier and 42.3% lower than the year-ago week, the Association of American Railroads said...
Union Pacific pulls 2020 operating ratio, volume forecast as pandemic concerns deepen
(Source: Reuters, April 23, 2020) NEW YORK — U.S. railroad operator Union Pacific Corp. topped Wall Street estimates for quarterly profit on Thursday, but withdrew its full-year operating ratio and volume forecasts as business shutdowns triggered by the coronavirus...
UP CEO says railroad is well-equipped to make it through terrible near-term freight conditions
(Source: Railway Age, April 24, 2020) NEW YORK — Union Pacific reported an all-time best operating ratio of 59% in 2020’s first quarter, based on net income of $1.5 billion, or $2.15 per diluted share. This compares to $1.4 billion, or $1.93 per diluted share, in...
April 16 update from the Railroad Retirement Board Labor Member
(BLET Editor’s Note: The following is a message to Rail Labor from John Bragg, Labor Member of the Railroad Retirement Board.) CHICAGO, April 16 — It has been a couple of weeks since my last update, and while things are settling down somewhat, there are a couple of...
Teamsters survey reveals worker concerns with PPE, lack of info from management
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, April 23, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has spread and intensified across the United States in the last few weeks, hospital workers say that they are still being forced to ration...
