Rail Industry News
CSX Director sells $1.478 million in company stock
(Source: Market Beat, July 24, 2020) NEW YORK — CSX Director John J. Zillmer sold 20,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 24. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.13, for a total transaction of $1,478,665.00. Following...
Union Pacific signals caution as U.S. COVID-19 infections surge
(Source: Reuters, July 23, 2020) NEW YORK — Union Pacific Corp. on Thursday signaled caution on the U.S. economic recovery as a spike in COVID-19 infections forces cities and states to backtrack on plans to reopen businesses that were shuttered to contain the...
CSX views 2020’s second half with guarded optimism
(Source: Freight Waves, July 23, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — CSX is “cautiously optimistic” about volumes in the second half of 2020, noting that while volumes have rebounded significantly in recent weeks, the coronavirus, the election and overall economic uncertainty...
FRA reorganizes rail safety office
(Source: Progressive Railroading, July 24, 2020) The Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Office of Railroad Safety has completed a yearlong reorganization to improve the regulation of railroad safety, regulators announced in the agency's newsletter. Full story:...
Amtrak passengers now face removal from trains for not wearing masks
(Source: USA Today, July 23, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak on Thursday joined U.S. air carriers in tightening face mask requirements, saying passengers could be removed or banned from its trains for non-compliance. Full story: USA Today
Canada’s crude by rail exports fall to four-year low
(Source: Canadian Press, July 22, 2020) CALGARY — Canadian exports of crude by rail plunged by 63 per cent in May compared with April as North American fuel demand dropped due to measures taken to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Full story: www.cbc.ca
Metra asks STB to intervene in UP service dispute
(Source: Progressive Railroading, July 22, 2020) Metra yesterday asked the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to issue a preliminary injunction to prevent Union Pacific Railroad from taking steps that the Chicago commuter railroad says would "degrade or halt" service...
KCS EVP & COO Jeff Songer sells $707,500 in company stock
(Source: Smarter Analyst, July 22, 2020) NEW YORK — Yesterday, the EVP & COO of Kansas City Southern, Jeffrey Songer, sold shares of KSC for $707,500.00. Full story: Smarter Analyst
Rail traffic continues to slide
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, July 23, 2020) NEW YORK — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending July 18, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 481,597 carloads and intermodal units, down...
Class Is employed fewer people in June
(Source: Progressive Railroading, July 22, 2020) Class Is employed 116,128 workers in mid-June, down 2.31 percent from May's employment levels and down 17.99 percent year over year, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB) data. All employment categories logged...
Canadian Pacific’s second-quarter net profit falls 12%
(Source: Freight Waves, July 22, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Canadian Pacific’s second-quarter net profit slipped 12% amid a 9% decrease in revenue. Net income totaled C$635 million (US$473 million), or C$4.66 in diluted earnings per share, in the second quarter of...
Canadian Pacific reports Q2 2020 financial results
(Source: Canadian Pacific Railway press release, July 22, 2020) CALGARY — Canadian Pacific Railway Limited today announced second-quarter results, including revenues of $1.79 billion, diluted earnings per share ("EPS") of $4.66, adjusted diluted EPS of $4.07 and an...
CSX’s second-quarter 2020 net income falls 43%
(Source: Freight Waves, July 22, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Second-quarter net profits for CSX slipped 43% amid a pandemic-induced 26% drop in revenue. Second-quarter revenue fell 26% to $2.26 billion amid lower economic activity driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, CSX...
CSX announces Q2 2020 financial results
(Source: CSX press release, July 22, 2020) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corp. today announced second quarter 2020 net earnings of $499 million, or $0.65 per share, versus $870 million, or $1.08 per share in the same period last year. “I want to extend my gratitude to all...
UP’s Q2 2020 net profit slips 28%
(Source: Freight Waves, July 23, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Net profit for Union Pacific in the second quarter fell 28% amid a 20% decline in volumes resulting from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Second-quarter net income totaled $1.1 billion, or...
Union Pacific reports Q2 2020 financial results
(Source: Union Pacific press release, July 23, 2020) OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Corporation today reported 2020 second quarter net income of $1.1 billion, or $1.67 per diluted share. This compares to $1.6 billion, or $2.22 per diluted share, in the second quarter...
CN to purchase 1,500 new hopper rail cars for grain export
(Source: CN press release, July 21, 2020) MONTREAL — CN today announced that it plans to acquire 1,500 new generation, high-capacity, grain hopper cars with delivery starting in January of 2021. These new railcars will encourage the economic recovery through job...
Virgin Trains moves closer on financing for high-speed rail between Las Vegas and Victorville
(Source: Fox 5 Vegas, July 21, 2020) LAS VEGAS — Clark County Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved state findings related to financing for the high-speed rail project. Full story: Fox 5 Vegas
Alabama neighbors upset train continuously blocks only entrance
(Source: Television station WSFA, July 21, 2020) MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ala. — A rural neighborhood living on the opposite side of a railroad track in Montgomery County says a train has been blocking the only entrance into and out of their neighborhood for years....
CP Rail is reconstructing the Davenport crossings to the Mississippi riverfront
(Source: Quad City Times, July 21, 2020) DAVENPORT, Iowa — The Canadian Pacific Railway is making good on its agreement to reconstruct the eight railroad crossings along downtown Davenport's riverfront that it blocked by abruptly raising the height of its tracks...
BLET News
Kansas City to host BLET for 74th annual SWCM
Southwestern Convention Meeting (SWCM) Host Chairman Mike Zenner of BLET Division 130 cordially invites everyone to Kansas City, Mo., on September 13-17 for the 74th SWCM at the Hyatt Crown Center.
Teamster Rail Conference leaders meet with DOT Secretary LaHood
Leaders of the BLET, BMWED and Teamsters met with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood on July 15 to discuss changes to the Hours of Service Law, high speed rail, and a host of additional issues.
BLET establishes Memorial Fund for IC&E families
The members of BLET Division 266 in Savanna, Ill., have established a memorial fund to honor the memories of Josh Osborn and Andrew Reed, who were killed in a tragic accident on July 14.
Engineer identified in IC&E tragedy
Joshua Matthew Osborn, age 27, of Savanna, Ill, has been identified as the second BLET member killed in the Bettendorf, Iowa, train accident on July 14, 2009.
Registration still open for Passenger Rail workshop
Space remains for the upcoming BLET Education & Training Department workshop for Local and General Chairmen who represent members working at passenger and commuter railroads.
In The Line of Duty: Two BLET members killed in IC&E train crash
Two members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen were killed on July 14 when their Iowa, Chicago & Eastern (IC&E) freight train collided with a group of stationary cars in Bettendorf, Ill.
FRA provides interpretation concerning July Hours of Service
With changes to the federal hours of service laws taking effect on Thursday, July 16, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) as provided an interpretation concerning the effect of hours worked prior to the changes.
Registration now available for IWC, August 9-13
Registration is now available for the BLET’s 69th annual International Western Convention (IWC) in Green Bay, Wisc.
Passi reelected Chairman of Nevada State Legislative Board
Chairman John Passi was reelected by acclamation at the Nevada State Legislative Board’s Second Quadrennial meeting in Sparks, Nevada, on June 30, 2009.
On the Right Track: 2009 Triennial Election update
The 2009 edition of “On the Right Track,” the Local Division nomination and election procedure manual, is now available for download from the BLET website.
