Rail Industry News
Louisville & Indiana acquires Southern Indiana Railway assets
Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC), an affiliate of Chicago-based Anacostia Rail Holdings Company, has acquired the assets and operating rights of the former Southern Indiana Railway (SIND), a short line located in the Louisville metropolitan area.
UP marks 30th anniversary of Mexican franchise
Union Pacific Railroad this week marked the 30th anniversary of Union Pacific de Mexico, the Class I’s Mexican franchise that was created on May 8, 1992.
NTSB investigating rare Metra passenger death after crash with truck on BNSF line
National Transportation Safety Board authorities are investigating Metra’s first passenger death since 2005 after a train collided with a truck Wednesday at a crossing in Clarendon Hills.
Rail freight down for 11th consecutive week
Freight rail traffic dipped yet again in Week 18, compared to the prior-year period, as U.S. carloads fell just below 2% and intermodal dropped close to 5%, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported for the week ending May 7, 2022.
Teamsters honor health care heroes during National Nurses Week
As a union that represents thousands of nurses and other health care workers, the Teamsters are proud to celebrate National Nurses Week, which runs from May 6 through May 12. If the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated anything, it’s just how much our country needs to respect and appreciate the work done by nurses.
Analysis: Secrecy issues dominate as Gulf Coast STB hearing continues
Cross-examination of Jim Blair, Amtrak’s senior director of host railroads, consumed the full 8-hour, 28-minute session Monday as the Surface Transportation Board’s hearing on the effort to launch passenger service between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., resumed after an almost three-week hiatus.
MTA NYC Transit achieves new pandemic-era subway ridership record
MTA New York City Transit subway system on May 5 reached a new single-day ridership record of 3.497 million riders since the pandemic began in March 2020.
2022 Golden Spike anniversary celebrates diversity of workers who built railroad
Lovely springtime weather provided a picturesque backdrop as hundreds gathered at Promontory Summit on Tuesday, May 10 to mark the 153rd anniversary of the completion of the nation’s first transcontinental railroad.
CEO Farmer says BNSF taking “aggressive measures” to restore service, repeats calls for one-person crews
She linked BNSF’s positive train control efforts to its efforts to introduce one-person crews.
CSX’s Foote calls for fundamental change in relationship with union workers
Foote said railroads need to fix their adversarial relationship with workers, because in the current environment, workers don’t trust their managers.
Amtrak launches new apprenticeship pilot program
Creating an official path to learn on the job and grow their skills, Amtrak announced its Apprenticeship Pilot Program, providing opportunities for professional development.
STB board member stresses measured approach to service issues
The prospect that the Surface Transportation Board will require specific, operational moves by the rail industry to address its ongoing service issues is unlikely, and board member Patrick Fuchs spells out just why that is.
STB to require railroads to report more rail service, employment data
The eight-part regulations, which mostly affect the “Big 4”—BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific—include filing of service recovery plans by May 20, followed by frequent progress reports and biweekly conference calls with STB staff.
Amtrak to increase trains as demand returns
Bolstered by a demand for both business and leisure travel, Amtrak unveiled its summer schedule featuring the most Acela frequencies since the onset of the pandemic and Northeast Regional departures nearing 80% of pre-pandemic service levels.
Transport Canada seeks permanent Class I data reporting requirements
Transport Canada has proposed amendments to the Transportation Information Regulations that would require Class I railroads to report waybill, traffic, and service and performance information.
People vs. cargo: How battle over Amtrak’s Gulf Coast line could shape the future of passenger rail
For years, Amtrak has been trying to restore service in the form of a twice-a-day line between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama. But it’s met fierce resistance from two rail giants — CSX and Norfolk Southern — which own most of the tracks that the agency wants to use.
Calif. state lawmakers are not releasing $4.2 billion in high-speed rail money
Democratic lawmakers in California are refusing to pass over $4 billion to fund the state’s high-speed rail project that would connect San Francisco to Los Angeles. The stalemate could last for some time.
Anacostia Rail Holdings names Crosson as Safety Chief
Anacostia Rail Holdings Company (ARH) has named short line and Class I railroad safety veteran Herman E. Crosson as its new Chief Safety and Compliance Officer, effective May 9.
Railroaders quit after BNSF institutes draconian attendance policy
In the last three months, more than 700 railroaders have walked off the job at BNSF because of it, according to the union.
North American railroads: Unrehearsed, unpolished, inexperienced
Unfortunately, Northern American rail continues to look like a first-time performer at “open mike” at the logistics theater: unrehearsed, unpolished and inexperienced. Union Pacific is not giving its customers confidence in handling a crisis, and others are taking note. UBS and BOA have both downgraded UNP stock over concerns about growth.
BLET News
Rail unions join forces to end RUIA sequestration
All U.S. railroad labor unions have united in a campaign to overturn the unfair sequestration of Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) benefits, which unjustly reduces the unemployment and sickness benefits of railroad workers. The unions are represented by the Teamsters Rail Conference and the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department (TTD).
Simon reelected Chairman of New Jersey State Legislative Board
Sean P. Simon was reelected by acclamation to his third term as Chairman at the New Jersey State Legislative Board’s quadrennial meeting on May 28, 2020.
FRA grants unions’ request for another extension to file certification petitions
Following a second joint petition by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on June 3 granted another 60 day extension to time limits in which certain petitions for review must be filed with the Locomotive Engineer Review Board (LERB) and the Operating Crew Review Board (OCRB). Originally, the BLET and the SMART-TD requested an extension on March 30, which the FRA granted on April 7.
House Democrats unveil major rail safety legislation
On June 3, 2020, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D–OR) and Railroad Subcommittee Chairman Dan Lipinski (D–IL) introduced a $500 billion transportation bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill, titled the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act, includes numerous significant rail safety improvements in Title V.
Spradlin reelected KCS General Chairman
David A. Spradlin was reelected by acclamation as General Chairman during the Kansas City Southern / Louisiana & Arkansas Railway General Committee of Adjustment’s quadrennial meeting on June 2, 2020.
May 29 update and press release from the Railroad Retirement Board Labor Member; RRB begins paying CARES Act recovery payments for unemployed rail workers
By John Bragg, Labor Member, U.S. Railroad Retirement Board I can confirm that claimants should begin to see deposits in their accounts next week. Thanks again to the team of RRB employees who strived to get these critical resources to railroad workers in need.
BLET’s 2020 Cincinnati regional meeting postponed
The BLET National Division is postponing its Cincinnati, Ohio, regional meeting that was originally scheduled for August 17-21, 2020. The postponement is due to the continuing, widespread restrictions on movement and travel as well as limitations on the size of gatherings due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The BLET plans to reschedule the meeting for later in the year, and those who may have already made hotel or meeting reservations will be contacted in the coming days regarding a refund.
FRA extension of safety waivers to railroads puts U.S. through another two months of risk
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) extended safety waivers granted to the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic recently, again favoring the material concerns of the carriers over the safety of America’s rail workers and of the general public.
Sturdivant reelected NS-Southern Lines General Chairman
Jerry G. Sturdivant was reelected to his second term as General Chairman of the Norfolk Southern-Southern Lines General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) at its quadrennial meeting on May 19, 2020.
Memorial Day 2020
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President Each year, on Memorial Day, we pay tribute to the men and women who have given their lives serving in our military and we honor them for defending our country and our way of life. It is a sacred day to commemorate our fallen military heroes and to reflect on their sacrifices as they died defending our country, helping to ensure peace at home and around the globe.
