Rail Industry News
Environmental groups sue Utah board over oil train grants
(Source: Salt Lake Tribune, August 5, 2020) SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Utah officials violated federal law last year when they awarded nearly $28 million in grants to plan and develop a railway that oil-producing counties have proposed to connect with the national rail...
Tempe: Replaced section of rail bridge needs to look like original
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, August 4, 2020) NEW YORK — The portion of the bridge that collapsed in Tempe, Ariz., will be rebuilt. Inspectors said the sections of the steel truss bridge that did not fail are structurally safe. Union Pacific is still evaluating...
Opinion: Is outlook for Mexico’s rail freight still relevant?
(Source: Freight Waves opinion column by Jim Blaze, August 4, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Mexico has a freight railway system owned by the national government. However, the trains and the network are operated and managed by various private entities under concessions...
CSX says technology played key role in 2019
(Source: Freight Waves, August 4, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — How CSX integrates technology throughout the company operations is a key metric for how the railroad views its activities over the past year and into present and future years, according to its 2019...
Senior vice president of operations and mechanical at Norfolk Southern abruptly leaves company
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, August 4, 2020) NEW YORK — After a year of leading NS’s “clean sheeting” initiative in a consulting role, Michael A. Farrell was named senior vice president transportation in Nov. 2018, then appointed senior vice president of...
Final rule on railroad market dominance is issued by STB
(Source: Logistics Management, August 4, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Earlier this week, the Washington, D.C.-based Surface Transportation Board (STB), an independent adjudicatory and economic-regulatory agency charged by Congress with resolving railroad rate and service...
Amtrak cancels train to NY due to Isaias, sends passengers back to Boston
(Source: WHDH, August 4, 2020) BOSTON — Amtrak is canceling a train to New York City due to Tropical Storm Isaias, the company said Tuesday. Acela Train 2167 was canceled after passing through Providence, officials said. The train was sent back to Boston to discharge...
NJ Transit train service not running on most lines due to downed trees, wires left by Tropical Storm Isaias
(Source: www.nj.com, August 5, 2020) NEWARK, N.J. — The majority of NJ Transit train lines remain suspended Wednesday morning as workers scramble to clean up 250 downed trees, as well a repair downed wires and damaged signals, that halted service during Tropical Storm...
“Ice jacking” caused CN Rail derailment, crude oil leak in NW Ontario
(Source: Canadian Press, July 30, 2020) TORONTO — A freight-train derailment in northwestern Ontario that led to a significant oil spill this winter was caused by a phenomenon known as "ice jacking," federal investigators reported on Thursday. Full story: Kamloops...
Canadian railways expect steady grain carload volumes in 2020-2021
(Source: Freight Waves, August 3, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Canadian railways anticipate their grain volume movement in the 2020-2021 crop year will be roughly in line with how much they’ve hauled in recent years, according to outlooks from Canadian Pacific and...
Crude by rail flows from U.S. Midwest to West Coast drop 33% on month in May
(Source: S&P Global Platts, August 3, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Crude-by-rail shipments from the US Midwest to the West Coast declined further in May to 103,000 b/d, down 33% from April and the lowest level since August, amid lower refining runs and plunging North...
LIRR says Isaias may prompt a temporary shutdown of service
(Source: Long Island News 12, August 4, 2020) LONG ISLAND, N.Y. — The LIRR says it may shutdown service temporarily if there are sustained winds of 39 mph for an extended period of time. Full story: Long Island News 12
5 days after Tempe Town Lake derailment, crews prepare to rebuild partially collapsed bridge
(Source: Arizona Republic, August 3, 2020) TEMPE, Ariz. — Excavators and construction trucks lined the north and south banks of Tempe Town Lake on Monday, five days after a Union Pacific train derailed and caught fire while crossing the lake. Crews are clearing the...
Infrastructure investment firms reportedly eye KCS
(Source: Freight Waves, August 3, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Two major infrastructure investment firms, Global Infrastructure Partners and the Blackstone Group’s infrastructure segment, are mulling over whether to attempt to acquire U.S. Class I railroad Kansas City...
Q&A: Unemployment and sickness benefits for railroad employees
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, July 2, 2020) CHICAGO — The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) administers the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), which provides two kinds of benefits for qualified railroaders: unemployment benefits for those...
CN announces record crop year and increase to maximum supply chain capacity in 2020-21 grain plan
(Source: CN press release, July 30, 2020) MONTREAL — Today, CN filed and published its 2020-2021 Grain Plan, announcing that it set a new record by moving over 30 million metric tons (MMT) of grain from across Canada during the 2019-2020 crop year. CN also announced...
BNSF train cars carrying corn derail in Richland, Wash.
(Source: Associated Press, August 1, 2020) SEATTLE, Wash. — Eight train cars carrying corn derailed in Richland near the Yakima River train bridge, authorities said. No one was hurt. Full story: Seattle Times
Opinion: Public has interest in Pan Am Railways sale
(Source: Opinion column by the TransitMatters rail group published in Commonwealth Magazine, August 1, 2020) BOSTON, Mass. — Pan Am and its corporate predecessor Guilford are notorious for paring service and infrastructure investment to an absolute minimum while...
Report: Is KCS in play?
(Source: Railway Age, July 31, 2020) NEW YORK — Two private equity firms are considering a takeover bid for Kansas City Southern, according to a report based on information from anonymous sources in the Wall Street Journal posted late afternoon on July 31, just before...
Clean up and rebuilding planned after bridge fire, demolition at Tempe Town Lake
(Source: 12 News, August 2, 2020) TEMPE, Ariz. — Just five days after a train derailed and caught fire on the Salt River bridge over Tempe Town Lake, a portion of the bridge and two rail cars came crashing down in a planned explosion Sunday morning. Full story: 12...
BLET News
Newly-elected S-Ts invited to final workshop of 2009
The BLET’s Education and Training Department is inviting newly-elected Secretary-Treasurers to participate in its final Compliance Workshop of 2009, which will be held here from December 13-16.
BLET to conduct training for new Legislative Representatives
The BLET Education & Training Department, in conjunction with the National Legislative Office and the National Association of State Legislative Board Chairmen (NASLBC), will conduct a workshop for newly-elected BLET Division Legislative Representatives in Washington, D.C., from December 6-10, 2009.
BLET, UTU jointly oppose Amtrak firearms amendment
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the United Transportation Union have joined forces to oppose a Senate amendment that would allow Amtrak passengers to carry firearms in their checked luggage.
UnitedHealth Group offers help in flood-affected Ga. counties
UnitedHealth Group is offering free assistance to members affected by the recent floods in Georgia.
Deadheading and new Hours of Service regulations
The BLET National Division continues to get reports from all segments of the industry about problems with how deadhead trips are being treated for Hours of Service (HOS) recordkeeping purposes and in the application of the law. Some of these problems appear to be related to various carriers’ electronic timekeeping systems, while others seem to flow from a misinterpretation of the law.
Open enrollment for health care begins September 28
A four-week “open enrollment” period for BLET members covered by the Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan begins on Monday, September 28, 2009.
Triennial election update
As the BLET’s 2009 triennial division elections continue to unfold, members are advised of a clarification to the election procedural manual titled “On The Right Track.”
Education & Training Dept. announces workshop for new Local Chairmen
The BLET’s Education and Training Department is conducting a workshop in November for first-time Local Chairmen.
Taxi legislation moves forward in Ohio
By a vote of 55-40, the Ohio House of Representatives passed H.B. 71 on September 15, a bill that would establish safety requirements for contract carriers that transport railroad employees.
Call your senators and ask them to increase funding for high-speed rail
BLET members are urged to contact their Senators and ask them to increase the funding for high-speed rail to the level in the legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in July.
