Rail Industry News
Nebraska utility to challenge Union Pacific reciprocal switch rate
A Nebraska utility says it will file a rate complaint against Union Pacific for a reciprocal switch involving unit coal trains interchanged with BNSF Railway a few miles from the power plant.
UP suffers washouts in Oklahoma
Union Pacific has suffered “multiple washouts” in the Muskogee area following torrential rains early Thursday, the railroad said in a notification to customers.
AAR reports rail traffic for April and week ending April 30, 2022
Total U.S. carload traffic for the first four months of 2022 was 3,906,843 carloads, up 1.1 percent, or 44,191 carloads, from the same period last year; and 4,453,049 intermodal units, down 7.1 percent, or 340,541 containers and trailers, from last year.
Meeting of the Rails Celebration at Golden Spike National Historical Park
Re-enactments of the “meeting of the rails” back in 1869 will be staged at Golden Spike National Historical Park in Utah on Saturday and next Tuesday. On May 10, 1869, locomotives from the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroad Companies met at Promontory Summit completing the nation’s first transcontinental railroad.
CSX CEO lost situational awareness
Whatever was CSX CEO James M. Foote thinking when he testified before the STB’s “Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service” hearing April 26? His display of disdain for the agency — in particular, White House-nominated and Senate-confirmed STB member Robert A. Primus — was evident in mannerisms and sarcastic responses.
Should the freight rail industry be overhauled?
National Vice President Mark Wallace said: “Crew shortage is just one problem with PSR. Train length may be the biggest issue. These trains seriously congest the network.”
U.S. rail volumes mixed in April 2022, traffic down for 10th straight week
Total U.S. weekly rail traffic for the week ending April 20, 2022, was 506,699 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 6.3% from the same week in 2021. This is the tenth consecutive week that traffic has declined.
Former U.S. transportation secretaries, influential labor groups and businesses urge California’s legislature to approve funding for high-speed rail
Three former U.S. Transportation Secretaries and a number of influential labor unions, progressive organizations and businesses have signed a letter urging State Senate and Assembly leaders to approve $4.2 billion in bond funding for the California High-Speed Rail project included in Governor Newsom’s proposed FY 2022-2023 budget.
PSR is floundering. Is there a silver bullet? What are the next steps?
As STB Chairman Marty Oberman pointed out, the railroads have significantly reduced their collective workforce. There is “the run,” the recovery pace hurdle. Without a reserve, and with reluctant return of trained employees, PSR is seriously handicapped.
Norm Mineta, DOT secretary in 9/11 era, dies
Norman Mineta, who broke racial barriers for Asian Americans serving in high-profile government posts and ordered commercial flights grounded after the 9/11 terror attacks as the nation’s federal transportation secretary, died Tuesday. He was 90.
Port of Long Beach adds second rail line to boost capacity
The Port of Long Beach in California last week announced the completion of the Double Track Access project from Pier G to Pier J, which added a second rail line to boost capacity.
Minnesota senator kills passenger rail line, likens commuter rail to buggy whips
Sen. David Osmek said the Northern Lights passenger rail system is a bad idea that is a 19th century solution to transportation in Minnesota. He said it was like asking to spend money on buggy whips.
New NS President Alan Shaw visits railroaders in first days at the helm
Norfolk Southern President Alan Shaw spent his first two days as CEO visiting railroaders across the system and vowing to restore service to normal levels.
Houston’s Fifth Ward residents pleading for Union Pacific to take action on cancer cluster found in neighborhood
Fifth Ward residents are pleading for action on a “cancer cluster” identified in their area. The residents want Union Pacific to take responsibility for the health problems they say have plagued their community for years.
“It’s dangerous:” Residents voice concerns about blocked BNSF crossings in Somerville, Texas
Concerns are mounting over trains blocking crossings in Somerville. For some, It’s an inconvenience but for others, they say it’s a safety hazard.
BNSF’s Q1 2022 net income grew 10% despite volume decline
BNSF’s first-quarter 2022 net income was $1.37 billion, compared with $1.25 billion in the first quarter of 2021. Total revenues grew 10% to nearly $5.97 billion amid a 14% gain in average revenue per unit.
STB rail service hearing exposes insufficient service, poor worker morale
Over 25 rail-shipper groups, representing all industries using rail cars to ship products, and all rail-worker unions gave the Surface Transportation Board (STB) no-holds-barred testimonies during the Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service hearings April 26 and 27 at the STB’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Tracks reopen after BNSF derailment in North Dakota
The track at the site of a BNSF derailment between Burlington and Des Lacs was reopened for train traffic at about 2:30 a.m. Monday.
OIG: FRA must improve track inspection program
The U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General has recommended that the Federal Railroad Administration improve its track inspection program.
TSB: Misaligned rail joint led to derailment of CN crude oil train in 2019
In its investigation report (R19W0050) released today, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) determined that a recently replaced rail joint failed as a result of a misaligned joint bar, causing the derailment. The misalignment led to a loosening of the joint and initiated fatigue cracking in the joint bars which failed beneath the train as it traversed the area.
BLET News
BLET names new General Counsel
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce has appointed Joshua D. McInerney to serve as General Counsel for the oldest labor union in the Western Hemisphere. The appointment is effective upon the May 31 retirement of long-serving General Counsel Michael S. Wolly.
BLET reaches tentative agreement with Portland & Western
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with the Portland & Western/ Willamette & Pacific Railroad (PNW). Ballots were mailed today to active members of the BLET employed by the PNW who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
BLET, SMART-TD announce launch of Information and Communications Technology survey
The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe), in partnership with the BLET and SMART-TD, is launching a survey in mid-May to learn more about Information and Communications Technology (ICT), which relates to the technology and tools that railroaders use to share, gather and communicate information. The purpose of the survey is to understand how best to communicate important safety-related information to union members and across the railroad industry.
BLET reaches tentative agreement with WNYP
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad (WNYP). Ballots were mailed today to active members of the BLET employed by the WNYP who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
BLET to mark 157th anniversary on May 8, 2020
On May 8, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) will proudly marked its 157th anniversary. The union was founded as the Brotherhood of the Footboard on May 8, 1863 in Marshall, Mich. In 1864, the union changed its name to Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE).
May 1 update from the Railroad Retirement Board
The following is a message to Rail Labor from John Bragg, Labor Member of the Railroad Retirement Board
CSX General Chairman Best reelected by acclamation
General Chairman Garrison D. Best was reelected by acclamation to a third term of office at the quadrennial meeting of the CSX Eastern Lines General Committee of Adjustment, which was held on April 27, 2020.
BLET cancels publication of 2020 Regional Meeting Program book
The National Division is suspending the publication of its commemorative Regional Meeting Program and golf sponsorships for 2020. Any checks submitted to the National Division will be returned as soon as practicable.
Workers’ Memorial Day 2020
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President Workers’ Memorial Day is a time for all workers to remember and honor those who have lost their lives in the workplace, and to stand up to protect those on the job today. April 28 was chosen for Workers Memorial Day, in part, because it is the anniversary of the founding of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and is the date of a similar remembrance established by the Canadian government. Trade unionists around the world now mark April 28 as an international day of mourning. And mourning is what we must do on this day, while never forgetting to fight for safer workplaces for all workers.
Fannon reelected General Chairman of NS-Eastern Lines
Brother L.R. (Randy) Fannon, Jr. was reelected by acclamation to the office of General Chairman at the quadrennial meeting of the Norfolk Southern-Eastern Lines/Wheeling & Lake Erie/Louisville & Indiana Railroad General Committee of Adjustment, held on April 27, 2020.
