Rail Industry News
Amtrak worker killed while working on electrical line in New York
(Source: ABC News, December 5, 2019) NEW YORK — An Amtrak maintenance man was working on an electrical line in New York City when he was electrocuted and killed Thursday morning, according to the New York Police Department. Full story: ABC News
Family left with questions after workplace death of CP Rail engineer
(Source: Vancouver Sun, December 9, 2019) VANCOUVER, B.C. — The widow of a CP Rail engineer killed on the job on Dec. 2 is still struggling with questions about the death of her husband, a safety-conscious, long-serving company veteran. Full story: Vancouver Sun
Federal agency approves permit to transport liquefied natural gas via rail
(Source: Freight Waves, December 10, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has granted a special permit to Energy Transport Solutions (ETS) to haul liquified natural gas (LNG) by rail, stoking objections by some...
Massive fire erupts as CP Rail train hauling crude oil derails east of Saskatoon
(Source: GlobalNews.ca, December 10, 2019) SASKATOON — A section of Highway 16 east of Saskatoon is closed after a train derailment and fire early Monday morning. Canadian Pacific Railway said the train hauling crude oil derailed west of Guernsey, Sask., at around...
Norfolk Southern makes changes to demurrage and accessorial charges
(Source: Freight Waves, December 3, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Norfolk Southern is making changes to its tariffs governing demurrage and accessorial charges, the railroad said on Dec. 1 in an operations update. Full story: Freight Waves
CP Rail sets new record for monthly grain movements
(Source: Canadian Pacific Railway press release, December 2, 2019) CALGARY — Canadian Pacific (CP) moved more Canadian grain and grain products in November 2019 than any month in its history. CP delivered 2.74 million metric tons (MMT) during November, beating the...
Thicker Canadian crude to move on rails amid full pipelines
(Source: Reuters, December 3, 2019) WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Some of Canada’s sludge-like heavy oil will move in an even thicker form on railways in an effort to avoid pipeline bottlenecks and reduce risks. Full story: Reuters
Canada’s crude oil production will rise 50% by 2040, national regulator forecasts
(Source: CBC News, December 3, 2019) OTTAWA — Production of crude oil in Canada will grow nearly 50 per cent by 2040 even though energy use per person will decline by more than 15 per cent, according to a long-term outlook released Tuesday by the Canada Energy...
CN ramps up service as propane, grain industries demand priority
(Source: Canadian Press, November 29, 2019) MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway Co. says it is striving to address grain and propane backlogs as it ramps up service following an eight-day strike, but industry producers are demanding priority treatment that may not...
Death of CP Rail engineer highlights union’s safety concerns
(Source: Canadian Press, December 3, 2019) PORT COQUITLAM, B.C. — A union representing Canadian railway workers is renewing calls for safer work conditions after a locomotive engineer died Monday night in Port Coquitlam, B.C. Full story: Times Colonist
Fatal CP Rail accident at Port Coquitlam, B.C.
(Source: Teamsters Canada Rail Conference press release, December 3, 2019) LAVAL, Quebec — A Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) locomotive engineer died last night in an accident at the company’s rail yard in Port Coquitlam, BC. This is the tenth member of the Teamsters...
Rail worker killed in north Wichita yard accident
(Source: Television station KAKE, December 3, 2019) WICHITA, Kan. — A rail yard employee has died after an incident involving a train in north Wichita. It happened just after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3. Wichita police say some workers were loading and moving rail...
A newly digitized menu collection shows off America’s lost railroad cuisine
(Source: Atlas Obscura, December 2, 2019) NEW YORK — Ira Silverman was always on the go. In the late 1960s, the train enthusiast enrolled in Northwestern University’s Transportation Center in Evanston, near the great national rail hub of Chicago. This proximity gave...
Amtrak CEO wants to be a good “steward” of the country’s passenger rail corporation
(Source: Radio station WBUR, December 2, 2019) BOSTON — Since Amtrak chief executive Richard Anderson left his previous job as CEO of Delta Airlines to lead America’s railroad, he’s faced a new challenge — maintaining a relationship with Congress. Full story:...
Norfolk Southern wants to raise bridges, lower track in north Pittsburgh, but residents are in no mood
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, December 2, 2019) NEW YORK — Norfolk Southern wants to double-stack its trains as they move through Pittsburgh, but residents in the north side of the city are stacking up arguments and fighting back. Full story: Railway Track &...
Brightline, Florida’s high-speed train, has highest U.S. death rate
(Source: CBS Miami/Associated Press, December 2, 2019) MIAMI, Fla. — Florida’s high-speed passenger rail service, Brightline, which will soon be renamed Virgin Trains USA, has the worst death rate in the country. None of Brightline’s deaths were caused by crew error...
Canadian drillers to boost crude by rail shipments
(Source: OilPrice.com, December 2, 2019) CALGARY — Due to continued shortage of oil pipelines to take Canada’s oil to markets, Canadian producers plan to remove diluents from their oil sands production so they can load more of the heavy oil onto railcars than they...
Blumenthal leads effort to end Amtrak’s shield from lawsuits
(Source: Connecticut Mirror, December 3, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Richard Blumenthal is leading a congressional pushback against Amtrak’s new ticketing policy, which prevents passengers from suing the railroad company. Early this year, Amtrak changed the...
CN cuts earnings outlook on strike hit
(Source: Freight Waves, December 3, 2019) TORONTO — Canadian National lowered its earnings guidance based on the impact of the recent eight-day rail strike. Full story: Freight Waves
Railroad executives insist Precision Scheduled Railroading is about growth, not shrinking the industry
(Source: Trains Magazine, November 26, 2019) NEW YORK — CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific executives insisted last week that Precision Scheduled Railroading is a formula for growth, not a way for the industry to cut its way to prosperity. Full...
BLET News
Golf tournament raises funds for scholarships
The Midwest Rail Craft Scholarship Foundation will hold a charity golf tournament on July 10-11 to benefit the children of rail union members.
Room still available for advanced Local Chairman Workshop
Room is still available for BLET members who wish to participate in the advanced Local Chairman Workshop scheduled for May 22-27 at the National Labor College on the campus of the George Meany Center in Silver Spring, Md.
FRA issues Final Rule on locomotive horns
Locomotive engineers need to be on the lookout for instructions from their railroad regarding compliance with the new regulation for sounding train horns.
UTU misrepresented BLET agreements during BNSF strike
As most of you know, UTU used the BLET/BNSF Primary Recall Agreement as its justification to strike. Since the strike, BLET’s agreement and our actions have been grossly misrepresented and this is to give you the other half of the story that UTU has omitted in its spin.
Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund offering assistance in Pa., N.Y. and N.J.
The Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund recently received a Disaster Alert Notice for the states of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey due to severe storms and flooding that caused major damage in early April.
House Committee votes on legislation to save Amtrak
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved two bills on April 27, H.R. 1630 and H.R. 1631, that would provide funding for Amtrak and would improve high-speed passenger rail.
Teamsters to hold Rail Conference legislative workshop
Officers from various state legislative boards of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division from around the U.S. will meet in Las Vegas May 6-7 for a first-ever Teamster Rail Conference Legislative Workshop.
Workers Memorial Day 2005
The following is a statement from Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen National President Don M. Hahs on Workers Memorial Day.
Meany Center hazmat training available in June, July
The George Meany Center/National Labor College has room available for its hazardous waste/chemical emergency response training programs in June and July.
Transportation Labor calls for resignation of Amtrak Board of Directors
The Amtrak Board of Directors must resign immediately before they succeed in killing Amtrak from within through destructive privatization initiatives.
