Rail Industry News
NTSB: Operator presence control could have prevented fatal CSX worker accident
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 28, 2020) The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that a CSX ballast regulator operator's attempt to repair a machine without powering it off and without using lockout/tagout procedures is the probable cause...
Rail unions score court wins on cross-border crews, crew-size bargaining
(Source: Trains Magazine, August 29, 2020) Railroad unions scored a pair of court victories on Friday, with rulings overturning the Federal Railroad Administration’s approval of use of Kansas City Southern de Mexico engineers for cross-border movements, and vacating...
BNSF unveils newly painted locomotives to recognize 25th anniversary
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 27, 2020) BNSF Railway Co. recently unveiled the first of 10 locomotives with special paint schemes marking the railroad's 25th anniversary. Full story: Progressive Railroading
DOT seeks applicants for $500 million in highway-rail grade crossing grants
(Source: U.S. Department of Transportation press release, August 25, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation today published a Notice of Funding Opportunity that provides up to $50 million in grants for commuter rail agencies working to improve...
DOT announces $400 million in funding for four transit infrastructure projects
(Source: U.S. Department of Transportation press release, August 26, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump Administration today announced a total of $400 million in federal funding will be allocated by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit...
UP prepares for Houston intermodal yard consolidation
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 27, 2020) As part of its Unified Plan 2020 operational strategy, Union Pacific Railroad plans to consolidate its intermodal operations in the Houston area in the fall. Currently, both the Englewood and Settegast yards process...
Intermodal volume props up U.S. traffic
(Source: Freight Waves, August 27, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — U.S. intermodal traffic on a weekly basis gained 5% in the week ending Aug. 22, which in turn helped lift overall rail volumes higher. Intermodal volumes are 2.5% higher sequentially, and it was the third...
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending August 22
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, August 26, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 22, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 514,914...
NS continues to monitor Hurricane Laura
(Source: Norfolk Southern Service Alert, August 27, 2020) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern continues to monitor Hurricane Laura, which made landfall early Thursday morning, bringing heavy rainfall and wind to the Gulf Coast area. The New Orleans Flood Protection...
Damage from Hurricane Laura delays passenger train routes
(Source: CBS 46, August 27, 2020) NEW ORLEANS — Train services between New Orleans, Houston and Little Rock were affected by Hurricane Laura. Amtrak suspended service to the areas due to damage from the hurricane, which hit in the early morning hours of August 28....
Hurricane Laura hammers Union Pacific tracks near Lake Charles, La.
(Source: Freight Waves, August 27, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Hurricane Laura delivered “heavy damage” to the Union Pacific mainline and industrial tracks in the Lake Charles, Louisiana, area, resulting in both being taken out of service, the railroad said Thursday....
CHRSA issues environmental document for L.A.-Anaheim section
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 26, 2020) The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) yesterday kicked off a one-month scoping period to solicit input on additional freight facilities in Colton and Barstow, California, that are necessary for the...
New Mexico’s Rail Runner running late to meet PTC deadline
(Source: Albuquerque Journal, August 23, 2020) SANTA FE, N.M. — The state's Rail Runner Express is in danger of missing a federal deadline to implement required safety equipment, potentially costing the commuter railroad thousands of dollars in the process. Full...
Canada’s crude-by-rail exports reach eight-year low
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 26, 2020) Canadian exports of crude oil by rail fell to 42,820 barrels per day in June, an eight-year low, according to a report by Kallanish Energy. Citing Canada Energy Regulator data, the energy news outlet reported that...
MTA warns of massive service reductions, possible LIRR branch cuts without federal aid
(Source: News 12, August 26, 2020) LONG ISLAND, N.Y. — The MTA issued a dire warning Wednesday -- massive cuts will start next year if the federal government doesn't step up to help it with more than $12 billion in funding it needs to get through 2021. Full story:...
DOJ says railroads on hook to prove legality of fuel rate chats
(Source: Bloomberg Law, August 26, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The country’s top freight railroads should bear the burden of proving that their communications over fuel charges don’t violate federal antitrust law, the Justice Department said. CSX Transportation Inc.,...
Regulators warn Class I railroads on service issues, excessively late trains
(Source: Supply Chain Dive, August 26, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — T he Surface Transportation Board and the Federal Railroad Administration issued joint letters to the seven Class I railroads on Monday, expressing concern over missed industrial switches and "excessively...
SEPTA launching social distancing coaches
(Source: CBS Philadelphia, August 26, 2020) PHILADELPHIA — SEPTA is launching Social Distancing Coaches across its transit system to remind riders to wear face masks and other safety measures during the pandemic. Full story: CBS Philadelphia
Amtrak’s Southwest Chief to reduce service through Kansas
(Source: Associated Press, August 25, 2020) NEWTON, Kan. — Amtrak riders in Kansas will encounter reduced service starting in October as part of the rail passenger service's nationwide cutback in routes because of the coronavirus pandemic. Full story: Connecticut...
Bipartisan legislators unveil bill aimed at helping railcar manufacturers
(Source: Freight Waves, August 25, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A bipartisan group of congressional legislators has introduced a bill that would provide a temporary tax credit to railcar manufacturers that have been hit hard by pandemic-induced, adverse market...
BLET News
Teamsters praise new funding for high speed rail projects
High speed rail is a crucial investment in our future and building these rail lines will create good jobs and provide working families with security.
16 railroad deaths in 2009 renews the call for commitment to safety
The Federal Railroad Administration is calling on all railroad workers to give heightened attention to safety in 2010 following 16 on-the-job fatalities in 2009.
Projects in California, Florida, Illinois are the biggest winners of high-speed rail grants
(The Associated Press circulated the following story by Joan Lowy on January 28, 2010.) WASHINGTON, D.C. — High-speed rail projects in California, Florida and Illinois are among the big winners of $8 billion in grants to be announced Thursday by the White House — the...
Coverage for H1N1 flu vaccine extended until March 31, 2010
Vaccine for the highly contagious H1N1 virus (commonly called “swine flu”) has been released to the public as supplies become available. The information below will help you decide if you should obtain the vaccine.
FRA final rule revises locomotive engineer certification requirements
The Federal Railroad Administration issued a final rule on December 31, 2009 addressing miscellaneous revisions to 49 CFR Part 240. The rule will take effect on February 22, 2010.
Inward-facing cameras unnecessary, wasteful
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) today charged that the installation of inward-facing cameras inside locomotive cabs as recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is unnecessary and wasteful.
Space remains for ST Workshops in Jacksonville, Las Vegas
Newly-elected Secretary-Treasurers have their first major task coming up on March 31 with the deadline for filing of Department of Labor reports. So why not attend an Education & Training Department workshop for some help?
Labor reaches agreement with White House on health care excise tax
The following is a statement by Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. BLET National President Paul Sorrow echoed General President Hoffa, stating that “This long overdue health care reform should bring additional benefits to BLET members who are disabled due to illness or injury or who have retired early, and the agreement prevents working BLET members from being unfairly taxed.
FRA publishes final rule on Positive Train Control
The Federal Railroad Administration published its final rule regarding Positive Train Control systems in the Federal Register dated January 15, 2010. The implementation of Positive Train Control was mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA08).
White House, unions reach deal on taxing insurance coverage
The White House has reached a tentative agreement with labor leaders to tax high-cost health insurance policies, sources said Thursday. The agreement clears one of the last major obstacles on the path to final passage of comprehensive health care legislation.
