Rail Industry News
Norfolk Southern cited for pollution at terminal construction site near Memphis
(Source: Commercial Appeal, February 20, 2012) MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Barely a year after receiving environmental permits to build a sprawling rail-to-truck terminal in Fayette County, Norfolk Southern Railway Co. has been cited by state regulators for polluting streams...
CP Rail talks with Teamsters Canada Rail Conference heading for conciliation
(Source: Globe and Mail, February 18, 2012) TORONTO — Contract talks are headed for conciliation at Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. amid an impasse over pension reform for unionized workers. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference’s five-year collective agreement with CP...
Sen. Kohl proposes rail antitrust act as amendment to Senate’s surface transportation bill
(Source: Progressive Railroading, February 17, 2012) Last week, U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) announced he had offered the Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act (S. 49) as an amendment to the Senate’s version of a long-term surface transportation measure, the Moving Ahead...
California transportation agencies seek bullet train funds to upgrade local corridors
(Source: Los Angeles Times, February 19, 2012) LOS ANGELES — In a major shift in thinking about the state's bullet train, powerful transportation agencies in Northern and Southern California want to quickly obtain up to half the project's bond financing to upgrade...
Gov. Brown pins legacy to California high-speed rail plans
(Source: Associated Press, February 19, 2012) SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Critics have called it the train to nowhere and a $98 billion boondoggle. As concerns mount over the practicality and affordability of California's plan to build a high-speed rail system, even many...
Amtrak celebrates increase in train speeds to 110 mph along Kalamazoo corridor from Chicago
(Source: Kalamazoo Gazette, February 15, 2012) KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A special Amtrak train arrived in Kalamazoo on Wednesday morning, hitting speeds of 110 mph on its way from Chicago. The train was a celebration of the first expansion of high-speed rail outside the...
Obama includes $47 billion for high-speed rail in 2013 budget
(Source: The Hill, February 15, 2012) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The $3.8 trillion budget unveiled this week by President Obama includes $47 billion for high-speed rail development, despite a Republican effort to defund the initiative this year. Full story: The Hill
NTSB: Canadian National failed to warn train before derailment
(Source: Chicago Tribune, February 14, 2012) CHICAGO — Canadian National Railway knew for an hour about a washout along tracks near Rockford but failed to notify a freight train crew in time to prevent a deadly derailment in 2009, the National Transportation Safety...
CN: Canada needs bold business leadership and sound public policy to ensure global competitiveness
(Source: CN press release, February 16, 2012) OTTAWA, Feb. 16, 2012 — Claude Mongeau, president and chief executive officer of CN, says Canadian business and governments must take bold steps to develop world-class enterprises that will drive the nation's...
CN cranks up steam on rival CP with pursuit of potash, coal contracts
(Full story: Globe and Mail, February 16, 2012) TORONTO — Canadian National Railway Co. is positioning itself to become a major transporter of potash and coal by increasingly pushing onto the turf of embattled Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. Full story: Globe and Mail
Short lines P&W, NEC form alliance to woo traffic from Canadian railroads
(Source: Providence Journal, February 17, 2012) PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Providence and Worcester Railroad Co. and New England Central Railroad have agreed to form an alliance to try to increase business with several Canadian haulers who carry freight to New England. The...
Gas field shipments boosting railroads
(Source: Bloomberg News, February 17, 2012) NEW YORK — CSX Corp.’s projected 40 percent gain this year in deliveries of fracking sand used for natural gas drilling may blunt a decline in coal shipments, the biggest commodity business for North American railroads. Full...
AAR: Railroads report increase in originated carloads during most recent week
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, February 16, 2012) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported an mixed weekly rail traffic for the week ending February 11, 2012, with U.S. railroads originating 279,501...
STB to hold hearing on Berkshire Hathaway acquisition of BNSF Railway
(Source: U.S. Surface Transportation Board press release, February 17, 2012) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Surface Transportation Board announced today that it will hold a March 22, 2012 public hearing to explore the impact of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. (Berkshire)'s...
California senators ask FRA to issue PTC implementation progress report next month
(Source: Progressive Railroading, February 14, 2012) U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) recently sent a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) expressing concerns about the current pace of positive train control (PTC)...
Coal weighs on railroads’ most-watched index
(Source: Bloomberg News, February 15, 2012) NEW YORK — The biggest component of Warren Buffett’s most-watched index — coal — is falling, and the decline may depress first-half earnings at U.S. railroads. Full story: Bloomberg News
Agency approves $8.1 million study for proposed South Jersey rail line
(Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, February 16, 2012) PHILADELPHIA — An $8.1 million study of a proposed commuter rail line between Glassboro and Camden was approved by the Delaware River Port Authority board on Wednesday, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The...
Maine lawmakers seek to preserve Downeaster funding
(Source: Maine Public Broadcasting Network, February 15, 2012) PORTLAND, Maine — In a bruising battle over federal transportation funds on Capitol Hill, Maine's congressional delegation is trying to cling to monies used to operate one of the state's biggest transit...
Speeding to Kalamazoo aboard Amtrak’s new high-speed train
(Source: Chicago Sun-Times, February 15, 2012) KALAMAZOO, Mich. — There was definitely a Back to the Future feel aboard the special Amtrak train that departed Union Station at 7 a.m. Wednesday carrying news media and dignitaries on a mission to commemorate the return...
House Republicans delay vote on controversial surface transportation bill
(Source: Journal of Commerce, February 15, 2012) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Facing shaky support for his surface transportation bill, House Republicans said they would delay the vote on the $260 billion, five-year package until after President’s Day's recess, according to a...
BLET News
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
