Rail Industry News
Railroads, shippers grapple over revenue adequacy at STB hearing
(Source: Freight Waves, December 13, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Will recommended changes to how the Surface Transportation Board (STB) tracks revenue adequacy end up serving as a revenue cap for Class I railroads? The railroads said yes but the shippers said no on the...
Liquefied natural gas can now be shipped by rail, despite explosion concerns
(Source: www.nj.com, December 12, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — The Trump administration has approved the shipment of liquified natural gas from the fracking fields of Pennsylvania to a port on the Delaware River in South Jersey. Full story: www.nj.com
FRA seeks to delay implementation of training for safety-related railroad workers
(Source: Safety and Health Magazine, December 12, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to a petition for rulemaking, the Federal Railroad Administration is seeking to further delay by 16 months the implementation dates of its proposed Training, Qualification, and...
AAR reports traffic decline for week ending December 7, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, December 11, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending December 7, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 517,130...
Duluth leaders try to fire up Minnesota legislators on passenger rail to Minneapolis
(Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune, December 11, 2019) DULUTH — On Wednesday a procession of local political leaders and advocates pitched a visiting House subcommittee on the need for the long-planned return of passenger rail service between Duluth and the Twin...
Cardinal ridership drops in W.Va., Sen. Manchin blames adverse Amtrak policies
(Source: Gazette-Mail, December 10, 2019) CHARLESTON, W.Va. — For the 2018-19 federal fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, ridership on the thrice-weekly Cardinal increased from 96,710 passengers in 2017-18 to 108,935 riders in 2018-19, with the restoration of the...
KCS CFO Upchurch sells $151,650 in company stock
(Source: Tech News Observer, December 12, 2019) NEW YORK — Kansas City Southern CFO Michael W. Upchurch sold 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 9. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.65, for a total...
Union Pacific EVP Whited sells $916,794 in company stock
(Source: DFS Caller, December 11, 2019) NEW YORK — Union Pacific Co. EVP Elizabeth F. Whited sold 5,342 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 9. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.62, for a total transaction of $916,794.04....
Amtrak faces its next chapter as railroad nears 50th anniversary
(Source: Progressive Railroading, December 10, 2019) As Amtrak heads toward the 50th anniversary next year of its creation, the nation’s only intercity passenger railroad does so in the best financial condition in its history. Full story: Progressive Railroading
Trial launches for man accused in armed confrontation with BNSF train crew
(Source: NCW Life, December 11, 2019) WENATCHEE — Trial opened Tuesday for a Chumstick Valley man accused of firing several gunshots to intimidate a crew of railroad workers. James Carl Brown, 45, allegedly fired three to five rounds from an M4 assault rifle in...
Judge dismisses Hyndman derailment lawsuit against CSX
(Source: Altoona Mirror, December 11, 2019) ALTOONA, Pa. — A federal judge has put a halt to a lawsuit filed by several residents of Hyndman Borough who were evacuated from their homes 28 months ago following a derailment of a CSX Transportation freight train,...
CEO optimism falls for 7th straight quarter: survey
(Source: Yahoo Finance, December 11, 2019) NEW YORK — CEOs grew less optimistic about the U.S. economy for the seventh straight quarter, according to a new survey. On Wednesday the Business Roundtable released its CEO Economic Outlook survey for the fourth quarter....
Weekly U.S. coal carloads climb 6.7% on week
(Source: S&P Global Platts, December 11, 2019) HOUSTON — Weekly U.S. coal carload originations totaled 72,402 in the week ended December 7, up 6.7% from the previous week, Association of American Railroads said Wednesday. But from the year-ago week, carloads was down...
Business CEOs throw support behind new NAFTA deal
(Source: The Hill, December 11, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — An association of CEOs from major U.S. corporations officially endorsed the new U.S. trade agreement with Mexico and Canada on Wednesday and urged Congress to swiftly pass legislation to implement it. Lance...
1.5 million liters of crude oil spilled in CP Rail derailment
(Source: Global News, December 12, 2019) CALGARY — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released new details regarding the Canadian Pacific Railway train derailment near Guernsey, Sask. TSB said Wednesday its preliminary examination suggests 19 of the 34...
Derailed crude oil train cars in Saskatchewan leaked, ignited despite enhanced safety features
(Source: CBC News, December 11, 2019) CALGARY — The oil-carrying Canadian Pacific Railway train that derailed and lit up an area of rural Saskatchewan earlier this week was pulling modified tank cars meant to reduce the risk of puncturing and other damage during a...
RRB Q&A: Credit for military service under the Railroad Retirement Act
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, November 1, 2019) CHICAGO — Many railroad employees have at some time served in the Armed Forces of the United States. Under certain conditions, their military service may be credited as rail service under the Railroad...
CSX, Maryland find extra funding for Howard Street Tunnel project
(Source: Progressive Railroading, December 9, 2019) CSX and the state of Maryland have agreed to $100 million in additional funding needed to advance the expansion of the long-planned Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore. Full story: Progressive Railroading
Palestine mayor calls on UP to drop lawsuit, apologize
(Source: Palestine Herald-Press, December 9, 2019) PALESTINE, Texas — In an impassioned speech Monday in council chambers, Palestine Mayor Steve Presley called on Union Pacific officials to apologize and drop their lawsuit against the city. Full story: Palestine...
Amtrak says growing demand makes case for increased funding
(Source: Business Traveller, December 7, 2019) LONDON — A rise in passenger numbers is boosting the case for more investment in US rail, according to the head of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. Full story: Business Traveller
BLET News
Statement of James P. Hoffa on the Teamsters’ disaffiliation from the AFL-CIO
I am here today to announce that the General Executive Board of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has unanimously voted to withdraw our membership from the AFL-CIO.
BLET members urged to ask Congress to oppose CAFTA
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen are asked to call the House of Representatives and urge their Representative to oppose CAFTA–the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement.
Change to win coalition unions announce plans
The Change to Win Coalition unions announced the following plans today.
BLET members to vote on Division size initiative
BLET members will consider a constitutional provision this month that may impact the size of local divisions.
In the line of duty: Mark W. Cain and Arthur L.
BLET Division 203 (Jackson, Miss.) members Mark Cain and Arthur “Buddy” Irby were killed on July 10, 2005, when their CN/IC locomotives collided head-on in Anding, Miss.
BLET seeks human factors input on rule violations
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is asking its members to participate in a voluntary program that will gather data to help eliminate the root causes of common railroad rule violations.
Inspector General’s report on Amtrak flawed
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is supporting the National Association of Railroad Passenger’s opinion in regards to Department of Transportation Inspector General Kenneth Mead’s recent report.
Amtrak battle not finished
The House vote on Amtrak last week was not the end of the battle for the future of the rail carrier. The BLET and other members of the Amtrak Action Alliance are still working to obtain full funding for Amtrak.
Hahs: Increase funding for rail security training
On behalf of the 55,000 men and women of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, I extend condolences to the families and victims of the tragic July 7 terrorist bombings in London.
DOL extends LM-30 deadline
The U.S. Department of Labor has extended the filing date for 2004 LM-30 reports from July 15 to August 15, 2005.
