Rail Industry News
Superior City Council wants BNSF to resume paying residents for dust removal
(Source: WDIO, October 20, 2020) SUPERIOR, Wisc. — Superior city councilors voted unanimously Tuesday night to ask the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway to resume payments to some city residents. Full story: www.wdio.com
CP Rail reports Q3 revenue and profit down from 2019
(Source: Canadian Press, October 20, 2020) CALGARY — Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. says it earned $598 million in its latest quarter, down from $618 million in the same quarter last year. Full story: BNN Bloomberg
Sen. Tester condemns “unacceptable” Empire Builder cuts
(Source: Press release from the office of Montana Senator Jon Tester, October 19, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement as Amtrak’s cuts in service to the Empire Builder line, which crosses the entire state of Montana...
Amtrak CEO sees travel down 70% in 2021
(Source: Reuters, October 21, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The chief executive of Amtrak will tell lawmakers on Wednesday the U.S. passenger railroad expects travel and revenue to fall by more than 70% from pre-coronavirus levels in 2021, as it considers more service and...
CN reports Q3 2020 financial results
(Source: CN press release, October 20, 2020) MONTREAL — CN today reported its financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2020. "CN's people never stopped working since the beginning of the pandemic and I am proud of the essential...
CN earnings fall in Q3 2020 despite record grain shipments
(Source: Canadian Press, October 20, 2020) MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway Co. isn't quite ready to reinstate its 2021 guidance after experiencing a third quarter that saw its mix of business change with the economic recovery. Full story: Yahoo Finance
Chicago-Minneapolis Amtrak service expanding to twice daily
(Source: Streetsblog Chicago, October 19, 2020) CHICAGO — According to Railway Gazette, the plan for a second daily Amtrak Empire Builder Line run between Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul is moving forward thanks to the award of a $31.8 million grant from the Federal...
KCS examines missed connections to improve 60% trip plan compliance
(Source: Supply Chain Dive, October 19, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — KCS considers cross-border intermodal to be a potential growth area for its business, and CEO Patrick Ottensmeyer acknowledged that trip plan compliance will be important in gaining that business. KCS'...
KCS sees opportunities ahead amid lingering headwinds
(Source: Freight Waves, October 16, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Executives with Kansas City Southern are cautiously optimistic about rail volumes in 2021, with optimism for an economic recovery tempered by uncertainties related to the coronavirus pandemic. Full story:...
Hit by pandemic, Amtrak is making cuts that may endure
(Source: Roll Call, October 19, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The COVID-19 pandemic may force a reckoning for Amtrak’s long-distance routes, bringing about cuts that critics have long urged but that passenger rail advocates in and out of Congress say could undermine the...
NTSB investigates worker’s death at CSX yard in Virginia
(Source: Freight Waves, October 19, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Federal investigators are looking into the death of a CSX employee at the Acca Yard in Richmond, Virginia, on Oct. 12. Full story: Freight Waves
U.S. CDC issues “strong recommendation” for mask mandate on airplanes, trains, buses
(Source: Reuters, October 19, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday issued a "strong recommendation" that all passengers and employees on airplanes, trains, subways, buses, taxis and ride-share vehicles should wear...
CP Rail reports Q3 2020 results
(Source: Canadian Pacific Railway press release, October 20, 2020) CALGARY — Canadian Pacific Railway Limited today announced third-quarter revenues of $1.86 billion, diluted earnings per share ("EPS") of $4.41, adjusted diluted EPS of $4.12 and an operating ratio of...
Canadian Pacific quarterly profit falls by 3%
(Source: Reuters, October 20, 2020) NEW YORK — Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd posted a 3.2% fall in third-quarter profit on Tuesday, hurt by lower freight volumes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full story: Reuters
New book details first time Native Americans derailed a train
(Source: Lexington Clipper-Herald, October 17, 2020) LEXINGTON, Neb. — A book published this year about the 1867 Native American raid and train derailment at Plum Creek is now available at the Dawson County Historical Museum. The book, “Attacking the Union Pacific:...
Amtrak tests new faster trains
(Source: CBS News, October 17, 2020) NEW YORK — Amtrak is set to roll out its fastest train yet, traveling at up to 160 mph. Amtrak gave CBS News an inside look at the speed tests for the new trains, which are set to debut in 2021. Full story: Yahoo News
How Metra may fill its budget hole if there’s no federal rescue
(Source: Daily Herald, October 19, 2020) CHICAGO — Service cuts are an option if no federal aid emerges for Metra, Union Pacific employees verifying tickets behind plexiglass creates "a mess," but a massively complicated emergency braking system is good to go. Full...
Weekly U.S. coal train loadings rise to seven-week high: STB
(Source: S&P Global Platts, October 16, 2020) HOUSTON — U.S. coal train loadings rose to a seven-week high in the week ended Oct. 9, as loadings from all four major basins increased on the week, Surface Transportation Board data showed Oct. 16. Full story: S&P Global...
Amtrak seeks help from Congress after best year in history
(Source: The Register-Guard, October 17, 2020) EUGENE, Ore. — The pandemic upended the success Amtrak experienced in 2019, the best year for ridership in the company's history with a record 32.5 million passenger trips and $3.3 billion in total operating revenue in...
Opinion: A customer check list for reading railroads’ third-quarter reports
(Source: Freight Waves opinion column by Jim Blaze, October 16, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The six railroads that practice their marketing-term model that is called precision scheduled railroading (PSR) will be reporting their third-quarter financial results through...
BLET News
Five hurt in Minnesota head-on collision; BLET Safety Task Force deployed
Five train crew members were injured yesterday following a head-on collision between two Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range (DMIR) freight trains in Two Harbors, Minn. BLET Safety Task Force member Daniel Lauzon is assisting the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) with its investigation.
BLET National Division Convention opens October 4
Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa will deliver the keynote address during opening ceremonies of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen’s (BLET’s) Second National Convention, which kicks off here on October 4.
Illinois SLB Chairman Paul Piekarski reelected by acclamation
Brother Paul Piekarski was elected by acclamation to continue serving as Chairman of the Illinois State Legislative Board at the Board’s 13th quadrennial meeting in Schaumburg, Ill., from September 23-24, 2010.
Open enrollment coming soon for important health care reform changes
Starting shortly, employees covered under the Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan and the National Railway Carriers and United Transportation Union Health and Welfare Plan (the Plan) will receive their annual Open Enrollment Packets from Railroad Enrollment Services. It is imperative that every employee open the packet to read the important Plan changes effective January 1, 2011. Further, it is also vital that each employee reads the instructions on how to comply with the Federal Law requiring Social Security Numbers (SSNs) for covered dependents.
Plan ahead for 2011 BLET regional meetings
BLET members making vacation plans for next year are encouraged to consider attending one of the BLET’s regional meetings in 2011.
UP General Chairman Bill Hannah reelected by acclamation
Brother D.W. “Bill” Hannah was reelected by acclamation to his fourth term as General Chairman of the Union Pacific-Western Lines General Committee of Adjustment at triennial meetings in San Diego, Calif., from September 21-23, 2010.
BLET urges FRA to improve cab safety, security
In the aftermath of the tragic murder of CSX Conductor Fred Gibbs in the cab of his train’s lead locomotive, BLET National President Dennis Pierce has called on the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to act to improve the safety and security of locomotive cabs to help protect operating crews.
Teamsters Canada Rail Conference opens Second National Convention
Some 165 delegates and a gallery of almost 150 guests and invited international visitors opened the second quadrennial national convention of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) here on September 21 under the banner of “Building the Future.”
San Antonio hosts BLET for 75th annual SWCM
Linda Chavez-Thompson, candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Texas and former Executive Vice President of the AFL-CIO, addressed more than 300 members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) today during opening ceremonies of the union’s 75th annual Southwestern Convention Meeting (SWCM).
BLET launches close call reporting system at Amtrak
Amtrak and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) will begin working together to improve safe train operations under a joint Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS) at nine locations throughout the United States.
