Departure board showing weather-related cancellations on the MBTA commuter rail system. Photo by Joseph Prezioso via Getty Images
BLET members remained at the throttle in the face of an immense winter storm last week. Dubbed “Fern” by the Weather Channel, the winter storm spread heavy snow, freezing rain, ice, and dangerously cold temperatures. The National Weather Service issued winter weather advisories in more than 30 states, slowing freight railroads and causing widespread cancellations at commuter and passenger railroads in the Midwest and East of the Mississippi River. In spite of the adverse conditions, BLET members remained steadfast and answered the call to keep the backbone of America’s economy moving.
Amtrak cancelled or delayed numerous trains in the Midwest and along the Northeast corridor due to snow and ice accumulations. Hardest hit were Northeast Regional trains between Boston, New York, Washington, and Philadelphia, the Keystone service in Pennsylvania, and its Empire Service route, Lincoln Service route, Wolverine route, and the City of New Orleans route. Commuter railroad NJ Transit cancelled all service on Sunday, January 25, and slowly resumed operations the next day. The Long Island Rail Road operated on a Saturday scheduled on January 25 and 26. SEPTA regional rail suspended service on January 25, and resumed service on a Saturday schedule. As late as January 29, the MBTA in Boston announced the cancellation of multiple trains due to “ongoing storm impacts”
On the freight side, Norfolk Southern, BNSF, and CSX activated winter action plans, which includes operating at slower speeds and reducing train length in an attempt to reduce the number of equipment breakdowns at subzero temperatures. Portions of Norfolk Southern’s territory, including the Plains, Mississippi Valley, Southeast, and Mid Atlantic, saw heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Freezing rain also made a significant impact in Texas, the Lower Mississippi Valley, the Deep South, Georgia, and the Carolinas.
BNSF reported snow accumulations of 8 to 15 inches from central Oklahoma to western Kentucky, along with sleet and freezing rain. BNSF’s northern areas saw wind chills well below zero. After the storm, lingering icy conditions limited operations in Tulsa, Memphis, and North Fort Worth (especially the Alliance Intermodal Facility).
CSX reported its regions in the Northeast, Midwest, Southwest, and Southeast were impacted by heavy snowfall and extreme cold. In the Southwest region around Nashville and Memphis, CSX cleared more than 500 downed trees and other debris from tracks after substantial ice and snow accumulations.
In spite of the adverse conditions, BLET members continued to answer the call and deserve recognition and thanks for keeping the trains moving.