Rail Industry News
CSX, UP, CN pledge to reduce emissions
(Source: Freight Waves, March 19, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Union Pacific, CSX and Canadian National are setting goals to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in part through a pledge with the global initiative Science Based Targets. Full story: Freight...
D.C. Circuit rejects Union Pacific challenge to DOT flammable freight data disclosure rule
(Source: Reuters, March 18, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — A U.S. federal appeals court has denied a bid by Union Pacific Railroad Company to invalidate a U.S. Department of Transportation safety rule that requires railroads to share with states and tribes information about...
Metrolink awarded $10.7 million from FRA for rail safety and operations improvements
(Source: Mass Transit Mag, March 18, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Metrolink has been awarded $10.7 million in funding from the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. The funding will support...
Effective Saturday, Amtrak reduces daily Carbondale-Chicago roundtrips from 3 to 2
(Source: The Southern, March 19, 2020) CARBONDALE, Ill. — Citing fewer passengers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Amtrak has reduced its round-trip Carbondale-to-Chicago routes from three times daily to two. Full story: The Southern
Coronavirus update: MTA to draw on emergency funds; Amtrak, rail agencies adjust schedules
(Source: Progressive Railroading, March 19, 2020) The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York City tomorrow will draw down $1 billion of emergency funds on its existing line of credit to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, MTA Chairman and Chief...
CP Rail files proxy circular, announces virtual annual meeting of shareholders
(Source: Canadian Pacific Railway press release, March 19, 2020) CALGARY — Canadian Pacific Railway Limited announced today that it has completed the filing of its notice of meeting and management proxy circular for CP's 2020 annual meeting of shareholders with...
KCS to announce 1Q 2020 results on April 17
(Source: Kansas City Southern press release, March 20, 2020) KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern (KCS) will release its first quarter 2020 financial results on Friday, April 17, 2020, before the opening of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. KCS will also hold...
NJ Transit tells Congress it needs $1.25 billion bailout
(Source: Politico, March 19, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — NJ Transit, which runs one the of the nation’s largest commuter transportation networks, has lost 88 percent of its ridership and now needs a $1.25 billion federal bailout in order to survive, according to a letter...
U.S. weekly coal carloads fall to 10 year low
(Source: S&P Global Platts, March 18, 2020) HOUSTON — US coal carloads fell to a 10-year low 55,542 in the week ended March 14, down 5.3% from a week earlier and 23% lower than the year-ago week, the Association of American Railroads said Wednesday. Full story: S&P...
North American intermodal traffic takes a hit
(Source: Freight Waves, March 19, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Weekly North American intermodal traffic has fallen nearly 10% as the coronavirus dampens volumes. Full story: Freight Waves
AAR: Intermodal likely to see earliest coronavirus impacts
(Source: Railway Age, March 19, 2020) NEW YORK — According to the Association of American Railroads (AAR), one rail sector in particular will be the first to feel the brunt of the coronavirus’ impact. Full story: Railway Age
AAR reports rail traffic decline for week ending March 14, 2020
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, March 18, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending March 14, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 463,017...
3 NJ Transit employees test positive for coronavirus
(Source: www.nj.com, March 20, 2020) NEWARK, N.J. — Three NJ Transit employees have tested positive for the coronavirus, the agency confirmed Thursday night. One is a “frontline employee,” spokesperson Nancy Snyder wrote in an email. Full story: www.nj.com
Three known cases of coronavirus reported at two Class I railroads
(Source: Freight Waves, March 19, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific each have employees who have contracted the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. Full story: Freight Waves
RRB cautions customers against scams
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, February 17, 2020) CHICAGO — The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is reminding its customers to use caution and common sense to avoid being the victim of a telephone or email scam. Should there be some type of...
COVID-19 may derail dueling railroads’ antitrust trial
(Source: Law 360, March 18, 2020) NEW YORK — Two railroad companies asked a Virginia federal judge Tuesday to pause an antitrust suit over a small railroad they co-own, citing travel restrictions and concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, with plaintiff CSX...
Amtrak announces reduced schedule, cancelled routes
(Source: Amtrak press release, March 18, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — While Amtrak continues to operate across the nation, we have adjusted some services due to significantly reduced demand in key markets. The most up-to-date schedules are available when booking your trip...
Lipinski introduces bills addressing blocked rail crossings, train noise
(Source: Freight Waves, March 18, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Chicago-area Democrat U.S. Representative Dan Lipinski introduced four bills last week that deal with issues such as blocked highway-rail grade crossings and train noise. The bills were introduced prior to...
Insider buying: CP Rail CEO just bought C$2.8 million in company stock
(Source: Simply Wall St., March 19, 2020) NEW YORK — Canadian Pacific Railway Limited shareholders (or potential shareholders) will be happy to see that the President, Keith Creel, recently bought a whopping CA$2.8m worth of stock, at a price of CA$293. That purchase...
FRA amending final rule on commuter, passenger railroad safety programs
(Source: Safety and Health Magazine, March 18, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than three years after the Federal Railroad Administration published a final rule that requires commuter and intercity passenger lines to develop and implement system safety programs, FRA is...
BLET News
BLET State Legislative Chairmen to hold annual meeting April 26-28
The National Association of State Legislative Board Chairmen (NASLBC) announced that their annual business meeting will take place April 26-28 at Bally‘s in Las Vegas.
Registration begins for SMA at Walt Disney World
Registration is now underway for the 80th annual Southeastern Meeting Association (SMA) convention at the Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., from June 10-15.
First VP Ed Rodzwicz testifies about fatigue at Congressional hearing
Today, the president of the Teamsters Rail Conference testified at hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials that rail employees are suffering from fatigue due to staffing levels and over-scheduling and that unsignaled areas of track are a danger that can be easily remedied.
State Legislative Board Chairmen meet with Members of Congress on Capitol Hill
Twenty-one BLET State Legislative Board Chairmen descended on Capitol Hill the week of January 22 in a major effort to educate their Senators and Representatives about railroad security, Amtrak funding, and many other issues of importance to the BLET and the Teamsters Rail Conference.
2007 LC Workshop is full; Waiting list set for a future class
Due to overwhelming demand, the BLET Education & Training Department announced that a waiting list has been created for a second Local Chairman workshop in 2007.
BLET to conduct 2007 Local Chairman Workshop in March
The BLET Education & Training Department will conduct a Local Chairman Workshop on the campus of the University of Illinois-Champaign, starting on Sunday, March 18 and ending the evening of Thursday, March 22.
BLET provides ‘Railroading 101’ training to new NMB arbitrators
The BLE&T Arbitration Department, in conjunction with the National Railway Labor Conference (NRLC), and with the cooperation of Union Pacific Railroad, sponsored three railroad-orientation classes for new arbitrators in December of 2006.
Kansas City S-T workshop is full; Space remains for Denver class
The BLET Education & Training Department’s Secretary-Treasurer Compliance Workshop in Kansas City is now full, making Denver the only remaining class with available space.
Buddy White reelected by acclamation in Georgia
Buddy White was reelected by acclamation to the office of Chairman of the Georgia State Legislative Board at the Board’s quadrennial meetings in Atlanta on January 22.
BLET Auxiliary secures passage of Page County, Va., remote control safety resolution
Thanks to lobbying by the BLET Auxiliary, Page County, Va., became the 63rd community in the United States to adopt a remote control safety resolution on January 16.
