Rail Industry News
Chicago suburbs protest planned CP-KCS merger
Eight Chicago suburbs are seeking to prevent the merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern from happening, saying that the additional traffic coming from the merger would create more gridlock from blocked crossings and could cause environmental harm to their communities.
CP-KCS seen as positive for Iowa ag shipments
With the pending merger of the Canadian Pacific (CP) and the Kansas City Southern (KCS) Railroads, former Senator Byron Dorgan finally feels like there is a benefit to the agriculture industry, as well as the rest of the American economy.
Part 5 of 5: Congressman attacks Texas Central on a second front
For the past few weeks, Railway Age has conducted an in-depth examination of the case of Miles v. Texas Central Railroad & Infrastructure, Inc. (TCRI) and Integrated Texas Logistics, Inc. (ITL), now before the Texas Supreme Court.
STB asks competing lines to detail concessions sought on CP-KCS merger
The STB can’t yet determine whether proposed remedies sought by BNSF and CN over potential operational impacts stemming from the CP–KCS merger would be “minor” or “significant” transactions.
Chemical release contained following UP derailment in Arizona
No injuries were reported. UP said cyclohexanone was released but the tanker has been secured and clean-up efforts are underway.
Why Amtrak’s petition to restore Gulf Coast service has nationwide implications
Because Amtrak must use the freight rail network, any expansion of passenger rail service could affect not only freight rail operations but also the shippers and ports that depend on the freight rail network.
Port of Long Beach logs busiest January on record
The Port of Long Beach (POLB) last week reported its busiest January ever with more than 800,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) handled.
Family of Florida couple killed in 2021 Empire Builder crash files suit against Amtrak, BNSF
The family of an elderly Glynn County couple killed in a train crash last year during their 50th wedding anniversary filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against both Amtrak and BNSF for wrongful death and negligence.
PA finalizing agreement with NS on second Pittsburgh-Harrisburg train
Pennsylvania and Norfolk Southern Railway are finalizing an agreement for several hundred millions of dollars in rail and station improvements over the next five years that will clear the way for a second daily Amtrak trip between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.
Museum seeks families, individuals with stories of Latino railroad workers
The museum is partnering with the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Office of Latino/Latin American Studies to create a record of these stories. People who share their personal or family history with OLLAS will receive a $50 Visa gift card.
STB slug-out: Amtrak vs. CSX, round 1
Holding their grounds through it all were Amtrak, joined by elected and other officials from Mississippi and advocates for passenger trains from around the nation; and CSX, its shippers and a multiplicity of officials from Mobile and elsewhere in Alabama.
BNSF train derails in Minnesota, hits second train
Clean-up is under way after a BNSF train derailed and hit a second train on an adjacent track Thursday morning near Frazee.
AAR reports rail traffic for the week ending Feb. 12, 2022
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 504,482 carloads and intermodal units, up 5 percent compared with the same week last year.
Man arrested after Metra train conductor robbed at gunpoint
Metra Police have arrested a man in an armed robbery of a train conductor Tuesday afternoon.
Brightline completes complex tracks at Orlando airport
The South Florida company is closing in on completion of a 170-mile extension from West Palm Beach and is about a year from beginning passenger service between Miami and Orlando, with multiple stops in between.
Analysis: CSX, Amtrak, former NS CEO Moorman weigh in on second day of STB hearing
Questions raised by Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin Oberman and other board members Wednesday, during the second day of a hearing over Amtrak service on the Gulf Coast, pointed to the key issues on which the case will likely be decided.
Rail traffic up, intermodal down in week ending Feb. 12, 2022
For the week ending Feb. 12, 2022, U.S. rail traffic was up 5% over the same week last year; total carloads came in 11.9% higher while intermodal volume continued its downward trend, dipping 0.4%, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) Feb. 16 report.
For Florida’s Brightline, 57 fatalities in 5 years
Brightline trains killed one person and seriously injured another in separate accidents less than 12 hours apart, the latest in a spate of collisions plaguing the higher-speed passenger trains since the railroad recently resumed operations.
Rail shippers push regulators to adopt reciprocal switching rules
The Rail Customer Coalition sent a letter to the Surface Transportation Board on Friday pushing for reciprocal switching rules ahead of a pivotal hearing slated for next month.
Search continues for suspect following fatal shooting on LIRR train
A suspect is still on the run following a fatal shooting on a Long Island Rail Road train about to pull out of the Ronkonkoma station early Wednesday morning.
BLET News
Registration open for BLET’s Clearwater regional meeting, July 22-26, 2019
Registration is now open for the BLET regional meeting at the Hilton Clearwater Beach hotel in Clearwater, Fla., July 22-26, 2019.
BLET lobbies Capitol Hill, regulatory agencies for crew member safety
BLET officers and staff invested a lot of legwork lobbying for rail worker safety during the early part of March 2019. The BLET lobbying effort was led by National President Dennis R. Pierce and Vice President and National Legislative Representative John P. Tolman, with invaluable support for BLET Director of Regulatory Affairs Vince Verna and BLET Legislative and Political Director Bob Hagan.
BLET to host Secretary-Treasurer class in June 2019
The BLET Education and Training Department will conduct a training class for Secretary-Treasurers from June 9-13, 2019, at the BLET National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio.
Reminder: Space remains for April hazmat training program in Arizona
As a reminder, space remains for the Rail Hazmat Chemical/Emergency Response and OSHA Awareness Training Programs that will be held April 10-14, 2019, in Winslow, Ariz. The training is sponsored by the Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program, and attendance is only open to railroad employees in Arizona, Western New Mexico, Southeastern California, and the Navajo Nation.
Reminder: Deadline is March 31 James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund applications
As a reminder, applications for the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund are due on March 31, 2019. The application process is completely online and all applications must be completed through the online portal found on the Fund’s website: http://www.jrhmsf.org.
Registration open for BLET’s St. Louis regional meeting, June 24-28, 2019
Registration is now open for the BLET regional meeting at the Hilton at the Ballpark in St. Louis, Mo., June 24-28, 2019.
BLET reaches tentative agreement with TASI for Caltrain engineers
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with Transit America Services Inc. (TASI). Ballots have been mailed to active members of the BLET employed by TASI who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
Open enrollment for the BLET Short Term Disability Enhanced-Plan coverage
Open Enrollment for the BLET’s Short Term Disability Enhanced-Plan through Sun Life will end on February 28, 2019. Those who enroll will have their coverage take effect on March 1, 2019.
RRB announces spring 2019 Pre-Retirement Seminars
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has announced its schedule of Pre-Retirement Seminars for the spring of 2019.
Runion reelected to fifth term as Chairman of Wyoming State Legislative Board
Cory L. Runion was reelected by acclamation to his fifth term as Chairman of the Wyoming State Legislative Board during its triennial meeting held in Cheyenne, Wyo., February 5-6, 2019.
