Rail Industry News
Union Pacific declares fourth quarter 2019 dividend
(Source: Union Pacific Railroad press release, November 14, 2019) OMAHA, Neb. — The Board of Directors of Union Pacific Corporation has declared a quarterly dividend of 97 cents per share on the company’s common stock, payable December 30, 2019, to shareholders of...
NJ Transit under scrutiny over slow pace of improvements
(Source: NJ Spotlight, November 15, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — The scene at the legislative hearing at the Hoboken train station Wednesday evening was all too familiar for NJ Transit riders: Once again they had a chance to bemoan the service they get from the state’s mass...
Port Authority to receive over $2.5 million from Norfolk Southern after 2018 derailment in Pittsburgh
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, November 14, 2019) NEW YORK — The Port Authority of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania is expecting to receiver almost $2.6 million in damages from Norfolk Southern following the 2018 derailment where a train landed on light rail...
Opinion: Railroad key performance indicators suggest continuing weakness
(Source: FreightWaves.com opinion column by Jim Blaze, November 14, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — KPIs are shorthand for linked key performance indicators. Not all railroad industry KPIs are internalized data. In fact, the best KPIs come from non-railroad sources....
Amtrak unveils its new high-speed Acela train prototype
(Source: The Points Guy, November 14, 2019) NEW YORK — New state-of-the-art high-speed Acela train cars are one-step closer to hitting the rails in 2021. Amtrak just released images of the first prototype being constructed at Alstom Transport’s Hornell, New York...
Norfolk Southern coal freight continues to drop amid new operating plan
(Source: S&P Global Platts, November 14, 2019) HOUSTON — While Norfolk Southern's coal freight and revenue have fallen amid weak domestic and international market conditions, the railroad remains optimistic about its improved productivity driven by its new operating...
AAR: Rail traffic down 5.9% for week ending November 9
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, November 13, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending November 9, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 515,269...
Kansas City Southern announces new capital allocation policy
(Source: Kansas City Southern press release, November 12, 2019) KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern (KCS) announced that its Board of Directors approved a new capital allocation policy. Under this new policy, the Company intends to deploy available cash in the...
Seventh Circuit rules the ADA does not protect future disabilities
(Source: JD Supra, November 13, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — On October 29, 2019, the Seventh Circuit held that Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company (“BNSF”) did not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) by refusing to hire a job applicant due to his...
FRA proposal calls for state highway-rail grade crossing plans
(Source: Transport Topics, November 13, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a proposed rule that would require states to develop highway-rail grade crossing action plans — or update the action plans they have. Full story: Transport...
Probe of NJ Transit’s problems gets underway as commuters come out to complain
(Source: www.nj.com, November 13, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — Commuters got a rare chance to tell lawmakers in person Wednesday evening about their issues with NJ Transit on their home turf – steps away from the buses and trains that would take them home from Hoboken...
Clean-up underway after 20-30 car BNSF coal train derailment near Red Oak
(Source: Radio Iowa, November 13, 2019) RED OAK, Iowa — An investigation is underway into the cause of an early-morning train derailment in southwest Iowa. Montgomery County Emergency Management says the county’s communications center was notified by Burlington...
Woman hurt in NJ Transit Hoboken Terminal crash settles lawsuit for $1.5 million
(Source: NBC New York, November 13, 2019) NEW YORK — A woman injured in the fatal crash of a New Jersey Transit train in 2016 has settled a lawsuit for $1.5 million. LaTonya Story was aboard the train that crashed at Hoboken Terminal, killing one and injuring more...
Another multimillion dollar jury verdict against Amtrak stemming from 2017 Dupont accident
(Source: NW News Network, November 13, 2019) DUPONT, Wash. — Another passenger badly injured in the Amtrak train derailment south of Tacoma nearly two years ago will collect big-time damages. But suing Amtrak like this suburban Seattle woman did will no longer be an...
Lawmakers aim to thwart Amtrak forced-arbitration policy for passengers
(Source: Roll Call, November 13, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Lawmakers are in the initial stages of determining whether they can prevent Amtrak from implementing a forced arbitration policy that would bar passengers from suing if they’re hurt or killed in crashes. Full...
Rep. Dan Lipinski calls for Metra to take over Union Station from Amtrak after “disastrous” service outage, falling concrete
(Source: Chicago Tribune, November 13, 2019) CHICAGO — After a “disastrous” service outage that delayed tens of thousands of passengers earlier this year and problems with falling concrete, Rep. Dan Lipinski wants Metra to take over control of train operations at...
Washington officials lay out case for “game-changing” bullet train linking Vancouver, Seattle, Portland
(Source: Associated Press, November 12, 2019) SEATTLE — A vote in Washington state last week to roll back car registration fees has scrambled transportation budgets — but Pacific Northwest rail advocates are undeterred in pursuing their vision of a bullet train...
AAR: 45 straight weeks of U.S. traffic downturn
(Source: Railway Age, November 13, 2019) NEW YORK — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ended Nov. 9, 2019, and, for this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 515,269 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.9% compared...
Operation Lifesaver launches redesigned website
(Source: Operation Lifesaver press release, November 12, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Operation Lifesaver Inc., the national, non-profit rail safety education group, has launched its redesigned website (www.oli.org) to reach new audiences and further its mission of...
DOT announces $900 million investment in American infrastructure
(Source: Department of Transportation press release, November 12, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced that the Trump Administration will invest $900 million in American infrastructure through the Better Utilizing Investments to...
BLET News
BLET scores another shortline organizing victory
Workers at the New Orleans and Gulf Coast Railway (NOGCR) have selected the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen as their designated collective bargaining representative.
BLET to conduct four S-T Workshops in 2005
The BLET’s Education and Training Department will conduct four Secretary-Treasurer Compliance Workshops this year prior to the March 31 deadline for filing Department of Labor reports.
In the line of duty: Christopher G. Seeling
Brother Christopher G. Seeling, Secretary-Treasurer of BLET Division 85 (Columbia, S.C.), was killed on January 6 when his Norfolk Southern train collided with another train that was stopped in a siding.
Funeral arrangements for Betty Child
The family of Betty Child announced funeral arrangements today for the long-time BLET employee and Honorary Member, who passed away on January 5.
Tell Corporate America and the Bush Administration: Stop railroading worker rights!
The nation’s giant railroads have sold their friends in the Bush Administration on a scheme to tax rail workers’ rights.
BLET announces Long Term Disability plan for Norfolk Southern members
The BLET’s Norfolk Southern General Committees of Adjustment are pleased to announce details of a Long Term Disability Plan for its members.
BLET member dies in South Carolina collision
A BLET member died Thursday morning when his train collided with a train that was stopped on a siding in South Carolina. The locomotive engineer’s name is being withheld pending notification of his family.
Honorary Member and devoted worker of BLET passes away
Honorary Member Betty Child, a loyal and long time Office Administrator of the National Legislative Office of the BLET, passed away today. Sister Betty was 60 years old and leaves her husband, Jerry, three children, and literally thousands of friends in the union movement and Washington, D.C.
President Bush to nominate new FRA Administrator
President Bush is expected to nominate Robert Jamison as Federal Railroad Administrator. Mr. Jamison is now serving as the Acting FRA Adminstrator, replacing Betty Monro, who in December retired from the FRA’s top spot. He will become the Administrator if approved by the Senate.
Rail unions form historic coalition
On January 3, for the first time in two decades, seven major railroad unions have joined together in the creation of the “Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition” to coordinate upcoming contract negotiations with the rail carriers. The seven unions of the coalition represent nearly 85,000 rail workers from American railroad corporations. The Coalition will develop a coordinated contract negotiating strategy and each individual union will not sign off on any tentative agreements with the rail carriers until all the coalition members concur.
