Rail Industry News
Mayors pushing for Amtrak service connecting Phoenix and Tucson
(Source: Television station ABC 15, July 13, 2021) PHOENIX, Ariz. — Mayors in Arizona are pushing for support of an Amtrak passenger rail service connecting Phoenix and Tucson. Full story: www.abc15.com
NCFO joins high-speed rail Executive Committee
(Source: National Conference of Firemen & Oilers (NCFO) press release, July 12, 2021) NEW YORK — Dean Devita, President of the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers, SEIU 32BJ (NCFO) announced today that the Executive Board of the National Conference of Firemen &...
Opinion: New equipment at Amtrak brings new challenges
(Source: Railway Age opinion column by Doug Riddell, July 9, 2021. Brother Riddell is a published author and retired member of BLET Division 14 in Washington, D.C. He hired out in 1977 and worked as an Amtrak locomotive engineer for decades.) NEW YORK — Having worked...
Touting new trains, Amtrak CEO foresees riders heading back
(Source: Associated Press, July 13, 2021) DETROIT — Amtrak is betting big on a return of ridership. The nation’s passenger railroad wants to replace its nearly half-century-old fleet with state-of-the-art trains that can operate on electricity or diesel fuel. It plans...
Teamsters applaud confirmation of Su as next Deputy U.S. Labor Secretary
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, July 13, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Teamsters applaud the U.S. Senate confirming California Labor Secretary Julie Su as the next deputy U.S. Secretary of Labor. Su has long, established record of...
BART uses grazing goats to reduce fire danger on right-of-way property
(Source: Bay Area Rapid Transit feature article, July 8, 2021) SAN JOSE, Calif. — As the Bay Area endures another hot, dry summer, BART is using goats to graze and cut firebreaks on its right-of-way property, which reduces reliance on fossil-fuel-powered equipment,...
Aging rail tunnels into NYC wreaked havoc for commuters last year with 210 hours of delays
(Source: www.nj.com, July 12, 2021) NEWARK, N.J. — Despite drops in ridership and service reductions at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, the 110-year-old Hudson River rail tunnels wracked havoc for passengers riding Amtrak and NJ Transit trains in 2020 and into...
Rail industry views vary on executive order’s impact
(Source: Progressive Railroading, July 12, 2021) Freight- and passenger-rail industry officials have offered mixed reactions to President Joe Biden's new executive order (EO) on economic competition, which calls on the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to require...
B.C. wildfires damaged key rail lines, backlogging Canada’s freight supply chain
(Source: CBC News, July 8, 2021) VICTORIA, B.C. — Wildfires burning across British Columbia damaged rail lines and brought train shipments to a grinding halt, causing a backlog of deliveries of all sorts of freight that is only now starting to slowly clear. Full...
Canada orders CN, CP to take fire safety precautions
(Source: Progressive Railroading, July 12, 2021) Canadian Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra has ordered that CN and Canadian Pacific may not operate trains in certain subdivisions in British Columbia where the fire danger level is "extreme." Full story: Progressive...
Norfolk Southern CEO Squires sells $19.7 million in company stock
(Source: Market Beat, July 13, 2021) NEW YORK — Norfolk Southern Co. CEO James A. Squires sold 70,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $282.21, for a total transaction of $19,754,700.00....
CSX, NS ask STB to deny Amtrak’s Gulf Coast request
(Source: Railway Age, July 12, 2021) NEW YORK — CSX and Norfolk Southern (NS) are calling on the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to deny “as moot” Amtrak’s renewed request for an interim order requiring the Class I railroads to provide track access between New...
Amtrak, Class Is make some progress in Gulf Coast talks
(Source: Progressive Railroading, July 9, 2021) CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway have given Amtrak limited access to their property along the Gulf Coast, according to a recent Amtrak filing with the Surface Transportation Board (STB). Full story: Progressive...
Opinion: It’s time to build Gateway
(Source: Newark Star-Ledger opinion column by Tony Coscia, Chairman of the Amtrak Board of Directors, July 11, 2021) NEWARK, N.J. — Throughout my career, I have helped plan and deliver some of the largest and most complex infrastructure projects in the New York-New...
Amtrak Coast Starlight service suspended in parts of Oregon until mid-July due to fire damage
(Source: Oregon Live, July 10, 2021) PORTLAND, Ore. — The Lava fire, burning near Mount Shasta in Northern California, damaged a portion of the Union Pacific Railroad in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, disrupting Amtrak passenger train service along the West...
STB Chair Oberman welcomes Biden’s executive order
(Source: Progressive Railroading, July 12, 2021) Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin Oberman said in a prepared statement that he welcomes "the nationwide policy" and "joins the concerns" outlined in the executive order on competition that President Joe Biden...
Judge orders UP jobs to remain in Palestine
(Source: Palestine Herald, July 9, 2021) PALESTINE, Texas — The District court has ruled Union Pacific jobs must stay in Palestine. On Thursday in the 369th Judicial District Court of Judge Michael Davis, Union Pacific Railroad was ordered to stick to the 1955...
NS furloughs 86 at Juniata locomotive shop
(Source: Altoona Mirror, July 10, 2021) ALTOONA, Pa. — Norfolk Southern furloughed 86 employees at the Juniata Locomotive Shop of Friday, with the jobs of 14 additional jobs eliminated by attrition. Full story: Altoona Mirror
Amtrak to spend $7 billion on new Siemens rail cars, locomotives
(Source: Progressive Railroading, July 8, 2021) Amtrak yesterday unveiled a $7.3 billion plan to purchase new passenger-rail cars and locomotives, upgrading a fleet that’s nearly 50 years old. Full story: Progressive Railroading
Amtrak seeks expedited STB treatment for Gulf Coast
(Source: Railway Age, July 8, 2021) NEW YORK — Amtrak on July 8 said it will renew its request that the Surface Transportation Board (STB) intervene on its behalf if CSX and Norfolk Southern (NS) don’t cooperate on hosting new passenger service between New Orleans and...
BLET News
BLET delegates back two-person train crews on final day of Third National Convention
Delegates today adopted a resolution pledging the BLET’s unwavering support for two-person train crews during the final day of the union’s Third National Convention.
President Pierce, Advisory Board elected by acclamation on Day 3 of BLET National Convention
Dennis R. Pierce was elected by acclamation to his second full term as President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen this morning at the union’s Third National Convention in Las Vegas. Additionally, all Advisory Board members were elected without opposition. Their terms of office will begin on January 1, 2015.
Teamsters’ Ken Hall highlights Day 2 of BLET’s Third National Convention
Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall motivated BLET delegates with an energetic speech that was a highlight today of the BLET’s Third National Convention. Delegates enjoyed video messages from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown during Day 2 of the session.
NST Bill Walpert bids farewell at BLET Third National Convention
BLET National Secretary-Treasurer William C. Walpert delivered a heartfelt and emotional retirement speech yesterday during the afternoon session of the BLET’s Third National Convention.
President Pierce addresses BLET delegates at Third National Convention
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce delivered his state of the union speech today to conclude the morning session of the BLET’s Third National Convention.
BLET Third National Convention begins
The Third National Convention of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) opened here this morning with over 400 delegates representing 38,000 locomotive engineers and trainmen on national freight and passenger rail systems across the United States.
Final preparations underway for BLET’s Third National Convention
Convention planners are working at a fevered pitch to make final preparations for opening ceremonies of the BLET’s Third National Convention slated to begin on Monday, September 29.
UP General Chairman Dick Crow elected by acclamation
Dick Crow was elected by acclamation to his first full term as General Chairman of the Union Pacific-Northern District General Committee of Adjustment during quadrennial meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada, September 24-25, 2014.
Kertesz reelected at Pennsylvania State Legislative Board meeting
Chairman Ken Kertesz was reelected by acclamation to his fourth term at the Pennsylvania State Legislative Board’s quadrennial meeting in Hershey, Pa., from September 13-15, 2014.
UP General Chairman Bill Hannah reelected by acclamation
Brother D.W. “Bill” Hannah was reelected by acclamation to his fifth term as General Chairman of the Union Pacific-Western Lines General Committee of Adjustment at quadrennial meetings in San Diego, Calif., on September 16, 2014.
