Rail Industry News
AAR: U.S. carloads, intermodal register double-digit gains
U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Feb. 19, 2022, came in at 497,822 carloads and intermodal units, rising 31.7% from the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported on Feb. 23.
STB issues environmental study scope for CP-KCS merger
The STB’s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) late last week issued the final scope of study for the environmental impact statement the office is preparing for the merger application of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern.
Utah legislature at odds with UP over switcher locomotives
Utah lawmakers are steamrolling ahead with a bill to strong-arm the largest railroad company in North America, with a top legislative leader accusing the Union Pacific of being an unwilling and uncooperative partner in efforts to clear the state’s troublesome air pollution.
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.
BLET News
BLET announces new appointments to Safety Task Force
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce today announced new appointments to the BLET Safety Task Force (STF), the rail industry’s first and oldest labor-based accident investigation team. National Secretary-Treasurer Stephen J. Bruno will continue serving as Chairman of the STF, while Brother Carl W. Fields (Division 682, Hammond, Ind.) remains STF Coordinator.
BLET to mark 156th anniversary on May 8, 2019
On May 8, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) will proudly marked its 156th 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), the name it retained for 140 years until merging with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters on Jan. 1, 2004, when it became the BLET. The BLET is the oldest labor union in the Western Hemisphere.
Hotel reservation deadline is May 22 for BLET regional meeting in St. Louis
As a reminder, the deadline to make hotel reservations is May 22 for the BLET regional meeting at the Hilton at the Ballpark in St. Louis, Mo. The regional meeting will be held June 24-28, 2019, and the last day to register for the meeting is May 22.
Workers Memorial Day 2019
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President Each year on April 28, unions including the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) recognize Workers Memorial Day and remember American workers who were injured or killed in on-the-job accidents. We commemorate and honor these workers and renew the fight for safe workplaces.
Space remains for June 9-13 Secretary-Treasurer class
Registration is still open for the Secretary-Treasurer training class scheduled for June 9-13, 2019, at the BLET National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio.
Gary Pedigo re-elected Texas State Legislative Board Chairman
The BLET’s Texas State Legislative Board held its 15th quadrennial meeting from April 7-11, 2019, in Austin, Texas. Brother Gary R. Pedigo, BLET Division 177 (Denison, Texas), was reelected to his second term as Chairman.
Former General Chairman Bill Hausleiter, 1947-2019
Former BLE General Chairman William G. (“Bill”) Hausleiter, Jr. passed away at the age of 72 on April 16. He was the inaugural General Chairman of the Amtrak General Committee of Adjustment when it was first established in the mid 1980s.
Registration continues for BLET’s Clearwater regional meeting, July 22-26, 2019
Registration is continuing for the BLET regional meeting at the Hilton Clearwater Beach hotel in Clearwater, Fla., July 22-26, 2019. The deadline to make hotel reservations and register for the regional meeting is June 23.
Minimum crew size bill awaits vote in Washington State Senate
The BLET Washington State Legislative Board, in conjunction with the SMART-TD Washington Legislative Board, has been lobbying the Washington State Legislature in support of legislation that would require two qualified crew members on trains operating in the state of Washington. Recently, this legislation (HB 1841) passed the State Assembly and will soon be voted on by the State Senate.
BLET member killed in off-duty accident
BLET member Rene Ramos, President of Division 350 in Kingsville, Texas, was killed in an automobile accident while on his way home from work on April 7, 2019. He was 50 years old.
