Rail Industry News
D.C. Teamsters partner for food bank to help those in need
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, November 24, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over the past two Saturdays, volunteers converged on Local 639 in Washington, D.C. to help distribute food to families in need as part of a charitable effort run by...
NS: More than a dozen train cars derail in Southwest Ohio
(Source: Dayton Daily News, November 24, 2020) DAYTON, Ohio — An early-morning derailment of 12 to 16 Norfolk Southern train cars caused closures to U.S. 127 in Wayne Twp. on Tuesday, according to Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones. No injuries were reported. Full...
CSX: 21 train cars derail near Baltimore, no injuries reported
(Source: WBAL TV-11, November 24, 2020) BALTIMORE, Md. — Baltimore City Fire crews responded to a CSX freight train derailment in North Baltimore on Monday night. Full story: www.wbal.com
UP: Hydrochloric acid spilled during California derailment
(Source: Visalia Times Delta, November 24, 2020) VISALIA, Calif. — The cause of a six-train car pileup remains unknown today, 24-plus hours after the wreck along Highway 99. No one was injured, however, tankers full of hazardous material were at risk of spilling over,...
Opinion: Defining Amtrak’s true mission
(Source: Railway Age opinion column by Tony Coscia, November 23, 2020. Mr. Coscia is Chairman of the Amtrak Board of Directors.) NEW YORK — It has been an honor to serve on the Amtrak Board for the past decade. I am extremely proud of the hardworking employees at...
KCS VP sells $287,000 in company stock
(Source: Market Beat, November 23, 2020) NEW YORK — Kansas City Southern VP Lora S. Cheatum sold 1,519 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, November 20. The stock was sold at an average price of $188.95, for a total transaction of $287,015.05....
Overturned tank cars removed nearly 24 hours after UP derailment in California
(Source: ABC30.com, November 24, 2020) FRESNO, Calif. — California Highway Patrol officers continue to direct a slow line of traffic up one lane of northbound Highway 99 in Tulare County on Tuesday morning, nearly 24 hours after a train derailment shut down the...
Railroads approaching PTC implementation, FRA says
(Source: Transport Topics, November 23, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The automatic braking system Congress is mandating for the country’s railroads is almost implemented on the route miles required by law, according to federal regulators’ most recent update. Full story:...
Report finds Hudson River rail tunnels could be rehabbed, but critics are wary
(Source: www.nj.com, November 24, 2020) NEWARK, N.J. — A similar solution that spared subway riders from a painful service disruption for tunnel repairs could be used on the 110-year-old Hudson River rail tunnels damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, said a consultant’s...
October U.S. Class I rail headcount drops despite rising volumes
(Source: Freight Waves, November 23, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Rail employment headcount in October among the U.S. operations of the Class I railroads fell to its second lowest level in 2020, according to the latest data from the Surface Transportation Board. U.S....
Amtrak reports $801.1 million operating loss
(Source: Railway Age, November 23, 2020) NEW YORK — Amtrak reported today preliminary results for fiscal year 2020 (October 2019-September 2020), including an operating loss of $801.1 million due to the pandemic. Operating revenues were $2.3 billion, a decrease of...
Amtrak supports end to RRB benefits sequester
(Source: Transportation Today, November 23, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak officials are espousing the benefits of a federal measure designed to provide equality to rail workers by ending the worker benefits sequester. Full story: Transportation Today
Minot’s new intermodal rail ramp “ramps up”
(Source: AG Week, November 23, 2020) MINOT, N.D. — They’re ramping up the intermodal “ramp” at Minot, N.D., a key piece of what could become very important as an international launching pad for specialty crop growers and exporters. Full story: AG Week
Amtrak, NJ Transit complete refresh of ticketed waiting area at NY Penn Station
(Source: Amtrak press release, November 20, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT have completed the second and final phase of the Ticketed Waiting Area refresh at New York Penn Station at the Amtrak Concourse on the Upper Level and 8th Avenue side of the...
Union Pacific eyes Upper Midwest for intermodal opportunities
(Source: Freight Waves, November 21, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Union Pacific is hoping to attract more intermodal customers in the Upper Midwest now that it has an intermodal terminal in Minneapolis. Full story: Freight Waves
EVP, CMO of Kansas City Southern is exercising options
(Source: Smarter Analyst, November 20, 2020) NEW YORK — Yesterday it was reported that the EVP, CMO of Kansas City Southern, Michael Naatz, exercised options to sell 5,355 KSU shares at $105.63 a share, for a total transaction value of $1.01 million. Full story:...
Weekly U.S. coal train loadings climb to five week high
(Source: S&P Global Platts, November 20, 2020) HOUSTON — U.S. coal train loadings rose to a five-week high in the week ended Nov. 13, as loadings from Northern Appalachia jumped to a seven-month high, Surface Transportation Board data showed Nov. 20. Full story: S&P...
Wave of Asian imports engulfs more U.S. ports, driving up costs
(Source: The Load Star, November 20, 2020) NEW YORK — The wave of imports that has overwhelmed Los Angeles and Long Beach has spread to other gateways, causing delays and higher costs for importers. The port of Oakland reported a 10.4% year-on-year rise in imports in...
Biden forms transportation transition team
(Source: American Trucker, November 20, 2020) NEW YORK — The Biden-Harris Transition Team created an 18-member panel to review the Department of Transportation (DOT) and other related U.S. agencies to help prepare the incoming administration before taking over the...
Senate confirms two additional STB members, bringing board roster up to five for first time
(Source: Freight Waves, November 20, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Freight railroads and shippers alike praised the Senate confirmation this week of two additional members to the Surface Transportation Board (STB). The confirmations of Robert Primus and Michelle Schultz...
BLET News
Urgent: House vote on NMB elections slated for March 31
Anti-worker legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives are trying to make it much more difficult for railroad and airline employees to form unions.
In the Line of Duty: Thomas J. Kenny
Brother Thomas J. Kenny of BLET Division 238 (Tacoma, Wash.) was one of three people killed when an off duty crew transport vehicle was struck by a BNSF freight train near Longview, Wash., on March 23. A fourth crew member is in critical condition.
Rail shipments of damaged hazmat containers more than doubles since 2007
The number of damaged or leaking hazardous materials containers shipped by rail has more than doubled over the past four years, and Rail Labor is demanding to know why.
FRA final rule on cell phones goes into effect March 28
BLET members are advised that the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) new rule regarding restrictions on railroad operating employees’ use of cellular telephones and other electronic devices will become effective on March 28, 2011.
BLET, UTU call for enhancement of locomotive safety standards
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the United Transportation Union (UTU) called on the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to improve locomotive cab security and to establish safety regulations governing the operation of remote control locomotives in joint comments filed on March 14.
BLET members ratify MBCR contract
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad (MBCR). Votes were tabulated on March 17, and the new four-year contract provides members with general wage increases worth 13.7 percent over the life of the agreement.
National President Pierce testifies at hearing on RSIA
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce testified this morning before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials hearing on “Federal Regulatory Overreach in the Railroad Industry: Implementing the Rail Safety Improvement Act.”
Pierce to testify before House Railroad Subcommittee
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce will testify for improved safety standards for BLET members before the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials at a hearing scheduled for tomorrow.
Hazmat, radiological training offered at National Labor College
The National Labor College has a full slate of hazardous materials training courses and radiological transportation training workshops coming up in the spring and summer of 2011. BLET members are encouraged to attend one or more of the classes to increase their knowledge regarding the transportation of hazardous and/or radioactive materials.
RRB informational conferences for 2011
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board will hold free informational conferences for elected officers of all railroad labor unions throughout 2011.
