Rail Industry News
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...
NJ Transit needs infusion of cash to get back on track, former lawmaker says
(Source: Opinion column by Jim Wisniewski at www.nj.com, November 12, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — The nation’s largest statewide transit system, the third largest by ridership, is in trouble. It wasn’t always this way and it doesn’t have to be. Full story:...
Money sought to study bringing Amtrak’s Southwest Chief to Colorado Springs
(Source: Colorado Springs Gazette, November 13, 2019) COLORADO SPRINGS — A long-awaited effort to extend an Amtrak line that runs through southeast Colorado could include adding a station in Colorado Springs. Full story: Colorado Springs Gazette
Editorial: CA Governor Newsom is right in saying he will oppose any raid on high-speed rail funding
(Source: Editorial in the Fresno Bee, November 10, 2019) FRESNO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom made it clear in an interview with The Bee’s Editorial Board that he will oppose any attempts by Southern California and Bay Area legislators to take money from the...
Bullet train for Cascadia urged on despite electorate’s anti-tax mood
(Source: Northwest News Network, November 8, 2019) SPOKANE, Wash. — Tuesday's vote in Washington state to roll back car registration fees has scrambled transportation budgets. But Pacific Northwest rail advocates are undeterred in pursuing their vision of a bullet...
Amtrak celebrates record 2019 fiscal year performance
(Source: Global Railway Review, November 12, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak is celebrating its best operating performance in company history this past fiscal year. The company set new records for ridership, revenue, and financial performance, which it says are due to...
Imperial Oil ramping up crude by rail shipments after pipeline outage
(Source: Reuters, November 12, 2019) WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Imperial Oil Ltd is increasing shipments of Canadian crude by rail, after the recent Keystone pipeline outage created more favorable economics, Chief Executive Rich Kruger said on Tuesday. Full story:...
CSX’s stock drops after Deutsche Bank downgrades, cuts price target
(Source: MarketWatch, November 12, 2019) NEW YORK — Shares of CSX Corp. fell 1.2% in premarket trading Tuesday, after Deutsche Bank analyst Amit Mehrotra downgraded the railroad operator, citing concerns over lower 2020 revenue and margin headwinds resulting from...
Dow transports dragged down by CSX and Norfolk Southern stocks
(Source: MarketWatch, November 12, 2019) NEW YORK — The Dow Jones Transportation Average slumped 12 points, or 0.1%, in morning trading Tuesday, to buck the gains in the broader market indexes, with the shares of East-coast based railroad operators CSX Corp. and...
Commemorative locomotives transported undercover into Canada for big reveal
(Source: CBC News, November 11, 2019) CALGARY — Five locomotives transported across the U.S. border into Canada, wrapped and hidden, sparked curiosity within the train buff community. For a whole week, people were left guessing — until Remembrance Day, shortly after a...
Amtrak wants to compete with planes and roads
(Source: Streetsblog USA, November 11, 2019) NEW YORK — Amtrak could become profitable as soon as next year as it beefs up short-distance service across the country as more Americans explore cost-efficient, less-polluting alternatives to driving and flying between...
CP records best-ever month for Canadian grain transport
(Source: Canadian Pacific Railway press release, November 12, 2019) CALGARY — Canadian Pacific moved more Canadian grain and grain products in October than any month in the company's history, delivering 2.66 million metric tons (MMT) to market. The high-capacity grain...
Amtrak faces lawsuit over “cannibalization” of retired locomotives
(Source: Railway Age, November 11, 2019) NEW YORK — Philip Morris Capital Corp. and HNB Investment Corp. have sued Amtrak in New York federal court in an attempt to recover $92.9 million for what they claim is a breach of contract for long-retired electric locomotives...
NS tracks reopened after Hempfield derailment
(Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, November 11, 2019) PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Lengthy delays can be expected, but rail service has been restored following a train derailment Friday in Hempfield, officials with Norfolk Southern Railroad announced. Full story: Pittsburgh...
Rail shippers seek transload sites even as volumes remain weak
(Source: Freight Waves, November 11, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Transloading, the process of moving product from one mode of transportation to another, is critical to freight shipping across the entire transportation network. Interest in transloading is tied to...
BLET News
A time to heal
In light of the deadly Norfolk Southern train crash in January, the Rail Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters is participating in a candlelight prayer vigil in Graniteville, S.C., on February 27.
Meany Center holds hazmat training in N.J. March 10-13
The National Labor College/George Meany Center will conduct a series of hazardous materials training courses for both rail workers and community responders in Carteret, N.J., from March 10-13.
BLET to conduct advanced Local Chairman Workshop May 22 – 27 at the GMC
The Education & Training Department of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is seeking participants for an advanced Local Chairman Workshop scheduled for May 22-27.
BLET to conduct GCofA Secretary-Treasurer refresher class in April
The BLET Education and Training Department will conduct a refresher class for General Committee Secretary-Treasurers from April 12–14 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Via Rail: The straight story
Gilles Halle, President of Teamster Canada Rail Conference, called the UTU’s recent website posting about Via Rail “a total misstatement of the facts.”
FRA issues switching safety Q&As
The Federal Railroad Administration has issued more switching safety recommendations in the wake of January 6’s fatal accident in Graniteville, S.C.
A tragedy in Waycross
For more than nine years, the CSX railroad yard in Waycross, Ga., was the safest in America. But that changed when the railroad began using remote control locomotives.
Teamsters disaster relief fund offers support and asks for contributions
The Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund recently received an alert for the state of Indiana, which has been ravaged by flooding and winter storms.
Space remains for February 20 S-T Workshop in San Francisco
Space is still available for members interested in attending the Education & Training Department’s Secretary- Treasurer Workshop in San Francisco from February 20-23.
Metrolink accident kills 11; BLET Safety Task Force to help investigate
A commuter train crash and derailment killed at least 11 people, and injured more that 200 outside Los Angeles this morning. The status of the train crews has not been confirmed.
