Rail Industry News
Jump in U.S. coal railroad volumes in 2021 driving up sentiment
(Source: S&P Global Platts, September 25, 2020) HOUSTON — U.S. railroad coal volumes are expected to jump over the next year following better demand conditions, albeit only temporarily, the Benchmark Company said this week. Full story: S&P Global Platts
Norfolk Southern to idle hump at Enola Yard
(Source: Freight Waves, September 24, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Friday will be the last day for the hump at Norfolk Southern’s Enola yard in Pennsylvania. Instead of using the hump, Norfolk Southern (NS) will sort and attach railcars to outbound trains using flat...
25 years later, Sunset Limited mystery still unsolved
(Source: SanTan Sun News, September 25, 2020) PHOENIX — Someone pulled 29 spikes that bound the rails to the wooden ties. They shoved one of the rails out of alignment and propped it in place with a metal bar. And they bypassed the alarm wires that run along the...
AAR: U.S. railroads’ intermodal volume climbs in Week 38
(Source: Progressive Railroading, September 24, 2020) U.S. freight railroads hauled 521,956 carloads and intermodal units during the week ending Sept. 19, a 1.3 percent decrease compared with the same week a year ago, according to Association of American Railroads...
RRB names Director of Hearings and Appeals
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, September 20, 2020) CHICAGO — The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has appointed Spiridoula Mavrothalasitis as Director of Hearings and Appeals. In this position, Ms. Mavrothalasitis will be responsible for...
Amtrak, which reduced service to 2 roundtrips in Norfolk and Newport News, has revived routes
(Source: Virginian-Pilot, September 22, 2020) NORFOLK, Va. — Amtrak, which went from offering four roundtrip train routes out of Hampton Roads before the pandemic to just two since April, has revived its Northeast Regional routes. Earlier this month, Amtrak restored...
NTSB: Improperly fastened rail joint caused derailment that killed Texas man
(Source: Associated Press, September 22, 2020) ARLINGTON, Texas — A loose, improperly fastened rail joint led to a 2017 derailment in a North Texas rail switching yard that killed a worker, the National Transportation Safety Board tweeted Tuesday. Full story:...
Canadian crude by rail exports fall to another 8-year low in July
(Source: Canadian Press, September 23, 2020) CALGARY — Canadian exports of crude oil by rail fell to another eight-year low in July despite the gradual recovery of North American fuel demand from low levels due to measures taken to control the COVID-19 pandemic. The...
U.S. rail headcount rises on monthly basis
(Source: Freight Waves, September 22, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — U.S. Class I rail employment levels rose between July and August on higher rail volumes. However, headcount totals are still significantly below year-ago levels. U.S. operations of the Class I railroads...
MBTA officials tip toe into what future service cuts would actually mean
(Source: www.boston.com, September 22, 2020) BOSTON — MBTA officials are facing a lot of unknowns over the coming years. How long will the COVID-19 pandemic endure? When will ridership return to its pre-coronavirus levels? Will ridership return to its pre-coronavirus...
Opinion: Middle America won’t survive losing Amtrak to COVID-19
(Source: Streetsblog USA opinion column by Mike Christensen, September 21, 2020. Mr. Christensen is the Executive Director of the Utah Rail Passengers Association, and serves on the Board of Directors of the national Rail Passengers Association.) SALT LAKE CITY, Utah...
Opinion: Rail freight recovery lags U.S. economic pace
(Source: Freight Waves opinion column by Jim Blaze, September 22, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Railroads are fundamentally directly involved in heavy manufacturing, resource commodities, energy and industrial production. Full story: Freight Waves
Mexican crude, freight rail delayed by protests
(Source: Argus Media, September 21, 2020) LONDON — Railroad lines in Mexico have been blocked by protesters during more than one-third of the year so far, delaying shipments of crude and metals crossing to and from the US, Kansas City Southern de Mexico president...
Sounder celebrates 20 years of commuter rail service
(Source: Sound Transit press release, September 21, 2020) SEATTLE — September 18 marked 20 years of providing Puget Sound commuters with Sounder train service. "When Sounder South debuted two decades ago, it provided a needed transit option for commuters in Pierce...
High-speed train between Dallas and Houston gets federal approval
(Source: Texas Tribune, September 21, 2020) AUSTIN, Texas — The high-speed train that promises to transport passengers between Dallas and Houston in 90 minutes has been approved by the Federal Railroad Administration, according to Texas Central Railroad, the company...
Teamsters mourn passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, September 21, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following is a statement from Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President, on the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. “On Friday evening, we lost...
Amtrak police and Operation Lifesaver mobilize virtual “Operation Clear Track” for Rail Safety Week
(Source: Operation Lifesaver press release, September 22, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Amtrak Police Department and Operation Lifesaver Inc.(OLI), the national rail safety education organization, have mobilized hundreds of law enforcement representatives and first...
Feds chip in $20 million for major Stockton railroad project
(Source: The Record, September 20, 2020) STOCKTON, Calif. — A $237 million project expected to relieve congestion for the four major railroads and passenger trains that cross paths just south of downtown Stockton got a major boost recently when the U.S. Department of...
Grant to help North Carolina buy rail for high-speed service
(Source: Associated Press, September 21, 2020) RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina will use a $47.5 million federal grant to purchase a rail line needed to advance planned high-speed passenger train service between Raleigh and Richmond, Virginia. Full story:...
All Aboard group, ND senators fight to stop Amtrak reductions
(Source: Grand Forks Herald, September 20, 2020) MINNEAPOLIS — A passenger train advocacy group and North Dakota's U.S. senators are fighting to try to keep Amtrak's Empire Builder on a daily schedule. Full story: Grand Forks Herald
BLET News
GC Matt Wilson reelected by acclamation at BNSF/MRL
General Chairman Matt O. Wilson was reelected by acclamation at the BNSF/MRL General Committee’s triennial meetings in Las Vegas on July 2.
Former GIA President Lillie Mae Parker passes away at age 98
Lillie Mae Parker, long-time member and President of the Grand International Auxiliary (GIA) to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, passed away peacefully on June 30, 2010, at the age of 98.
Dennis R. Pierce new BLET National President; Pruitt elevated to First Vice President, Moates to Vice President
Dennis R. Pierce is the new National President of North America’s senior rail labor organization. Pierce, 51, became the 23rd President in the 147-year history of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) today following the retirement of Paul T. Sorrow, whose distinguished railroad career spanned 45 years and included 38 years of dedicated service to the Brotherhood.
Final effort to collect dependent Social Security Numbers to comply with new federal law
In order to comply with new federal regulations, all railroad workers covered under the Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan (GA-23000) and the National Railway Carriers/United Transportation Union Health and Welfare Plan (GA-690100) must provide Social Security Numbers for their dependents.
Pierce elected President of Teamsters Rail Conference
BLET First Vice President and Alternate President Dennis R. Pierce was elected by acclamation to the office of President of the Teamsters Rail Conference on June 24 at the Rail Conference’s Quadrennial Convention in Las Vegas.
BLET member donates bone marrow, helps save a life
Thirteen years ago, Matt Kronyak’s nephew was battling leukemia. Everyone in his family signed up to become a bone marrow donor, but no one was a match. An outside donor was eventually found, and his nephew is now alive and doing well.
Photos available from 83rd annual SMA
BLET members enjoyed four days of education, training and fraternalism at the 83rd annual Southeastern Meeting Association (SMA) in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Worthington reelected Chairman of Utah State Legislative Board
The Utah State Legislative Board held its Quadrennial Meeting in Salt Lake City on May 26. Jeff Worthington was re-elected to the position of Chairman by the 11 Legislative Representatives in attendance.
Teamsters Rail Conference publishes ‘High Alert 2’ report
The Teamsters Rail Conference has issued a letter to all rail conference members of the BLET and BMWED announcing the publication of “High Alert Report 2: Four Years Later Workers Continue to Warn of Security Gaps on Nation’s Railroads.”
A bittersweet farewell for President Sorrow at SMA
BLET members bid a bittersweet farewell to retiring National President Paul Sorrow today during opening ceremonies of the 83rd Southeastern Meeting Association (SMA) annual convention.
