Rail Industry News
Report: CRRC’s “chief obligation is to the Chinese state”
(Source: Railway Age, November 4, 2019) NEW YORK — “CRRC AND BEIJING’S DASH FOR GLOBAL ROLLING STOCK DOMINANCE,” a report prepared by Radarlock, which describes itself as “a research organization that uses data-driven analysis to understand techno-economic dynamics in...
BNSF Q3 2019 coal revenues, volumes decline on adverse weather conditions
(Source: S&P Global Platts, November 3, 2019) HOUSTON — BNSF Railway reported a decrease in coal volumes and revenue in the third quarter of 2019, primarily because of adverse weather conditions and lower natural gas prices. The Fort Worth, Texas-based railroad...
BNSF’s Q3 2019 net earnings grow
(Source: Freight Waves, November 4, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Despite lower revenues, western U.S. railroad BNSF posted a net profit in the third quarter amid lower operating costs, BNSF said in a financial report Nov. 4. BNSF had a net profit of $1.47 billion, a...
Carper introduces bill to ban smoking on Amtrak
(Source: Dover Post, November 1, 2019) DOVER, Del. — In honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Sen. Tom Carper, D-Delaware, former Amtrak board member and top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced legislation that would ban smoking...
Amtrak restores service between Philadelphia, Harrisburg
(Source: Penn Live, November 3, 2019) HARRISBURG, Pa. — Amtrak services that had been temporarily suspended Saturday have now been restored between Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Full story: www.pennlive.com
Union Pacific train derails in Boone
(Source: News Republican, November 2, 2019) BOONE, Iowa — Nine cars on a Union Pacific train derailed in Boone Saturday evening, damaging several railroad employee cars in a parking lot. Full story: News Republican
MBTA weighs long-term plans for commuter rail
(Source: Gloucester Daily Times, November 3, 2019) GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Big plans are on the drawing board to modernize the MBTA's commuter rail, but the upgrades come with a hefty price tag. Full story: Gloucester Daily Times
Blocked crossings become a nuisance for Grand Island residents
(Source: Grand Island Independent, November 3, 2019) GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Shaun Shepardson played a sound recording of the train crossing bell near her home at North Road and Highway 2 for Hall County supervisors last week. Shepardson said she hears the loud,...
Weather, lingering floods challenge grain handling
(Source: Television station KPVI, November 2, 2019) HAMILTON, Mo. — Harvest is an exciting time on the farm, bringing the long-anticipated results and the paycheck from the year’s work growing crops. But it can also be a busy and challenging time, and this year there...
Opinion: The good and bad of PSR
(Source: Freight Waves opinion column by Ben Thrower, November 1, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The railroads have been riding a bumpy track for the past several years, and for some of them it continues. Full story: Freight Waves
Moody’s lowers freight rail industry outlook to negative for 2020
(Source: Freight Waves, November 4, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Moody’s Investors Service has lowered its outlook for the North American freight rail industry to negative from stable amid expectations that overall freight volumes could fall by 1.75% to 3% over the next...
BNSF earnings increase, but Berkshire Hathaway’s Q3 2019 profits decline 11%
(Source: Associated Press, November 2, 2019) OMAHA, Neb. — Warren Buffett's company reported Saturday that it saw an 11% decline in third-quarter profits because of a smaller increase in the paper value of its investments, even as it sits on a mountain of cash....
RRB Q&A: Railroad Retirement annuities and pensions from work not covered by Railroad Retirement or Social Security
(Source: Railroad Retirement press release, October 7, 2019) CHICAGO — Employee annuities paid under the Railroad Retirement Act are subject to dual benefit reductions when social security benefits are also payable, and they may be subject to reduction when certain...
Nov. 1, 1855: A bridge disaster derails St. Louis dream for a transcontinental railroad
(Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 1, 2019) ST. LOUIS, Mo. — On Nov. 1, 1855, the Pacific Railroad’s first train to Jefferson City left downtown bearing 600 prominent citizens. The railroad was a powerful expression of the city’s aspirations. Led by U.S. Sen....
Amtrak’s Hiawatha line to get new trains for Milwaukee-Chicago route
(Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, October 31, 2019) MADISON, Wisc. — The Legislature's budget committee approved spending $13.2 million on new passenger train cars Thursday for Amtrak's Milwaukee-to-Chicago line. Full story: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Houston-Dallas high-speed rail project may hold lessons for San Antonio
(Source: Rivard Report, November 1, 2019) SAN ANTONIO, Texas — While a San Antonio-to-Austin rail line remains an unrealized dream, a high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas is much closer to connecting the state’s two largest cities. Full story: Rivard...
Residents in this Alabama community are fed up with blocked railroad crossings
(Source: Times Daily, November 1, 2019) BARTON, Ala. — Residents of Pride Estates in eastern Colbert County are used to stopping at the railroad crossing near U.S. 72 for a passing Norfolk Southern freight train, but over the past few years, they've been frustrated by...
Virginia residents cry foul after Norfolk Southern train blocks only crossing into their neighborhood for four and a half hours
(Source: Television station WDBJ, November 1, 2019) BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. — People in one Botetourt County neighborhood are fed up after stuck trains have left them stranded for hours at a time. Wednesday night, people who live off of Davis Road in Blue Ridge had to...
Railroad proposes shipping 500 million gallons of Minnesota groundwater a year to the Southwest
(Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press, November 1, 2019) ST. PAUL, Minn. — Could Minnesota water end up in the thirsty southwestern United States? In what is believed to be a first for Minnesota, the state has received a request from a small Lakeville railroad company...
Union Pacific reports PTC progress
(Source: Union Pacific press release, October 31, 2019) OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific implemented Positive Train Control (PTC) on 1,113 route miles in the third quarter of 2019, bringing required PTC-operated route miles to 15,791 or 93 percent, including all required...
BLET News
UTU smokescreen: Blame BLET for future scheme
The United Transportation Union’s latest attack against the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen regarding seniority maintenance fees is a smokescreen created to draw attention away from its imminent plan to implement seniority maintenance fees on the national level, BLET National President Don Hahs charged today.
BLET wishes Betty Child a speedy recovery
BLET National President Don Hahs announced today that long-time BLET employee and honorary BLET member Betty Child has taken a medical leave of absence from her work in the BLET’s National Legislative offices in Washington, D.C.
BLET fights against Mexican inspection of U.S. trains
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen recently testified against allowing the Union Pacific Railroad to operate trains to the far interior of the United States with inspections of safety critical equipment done in Mexico.
Kerry sends loud message on transportation security
The following statement was issued today by Edward Wytkind, President of the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department.
Daughter of BLET member injured in automobile accident
Emily Frei, the daughter of BLET Division 239 (Knoxville, Tenn.) member Scott Frei, was involved in a tragic automobile accident on Friday, August 27.
The Teamster Disaster Relief Fund needs your support
The Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund is asking for contributions to provide assistance to members in the areas ravaged by the recent floods and storms.
House bill would outlaw remote control hazmat operations
Congressman Gene Green (D-TX) has introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that would prohibit railroads from using remote control locomotives to transport hazardous materials.
East St. Louis hazmat spill the latest in rash of remote control wrecks
A remote control train wreck in East St. Louis on September 21 is the second serious remote control accident this month, heightening concerns about the lack of enforceable Federal regulations to ensure the safety of these operations.
New England Central workers choose BLET
Train and engine employees at the New England Central Railroad today selected the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen/Teamsters as their designated collective bargaining representative.
Railroad Retirement Board clarifies UTU falsehood
The Legal Department of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board has come forth and denied a major falsehood being spread by the United Transportation Union regarding the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Railroad Retirement Trust Fund.
