Rail Industry News
CN reports Q3 2019 financial results
(Source: CN press release, October 22, 2019) MONTREAL — CN today reported its financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019. "CN delivered strong results, despite a softening economy,” said JJ Ruest, president and chief executive...
Norfolk Southern reports Q3 2019 financial results
(Source: Norfolk Southern press release, October 23, 2019) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corporation today reported third-quarter financial results. Third-quarter net income was $657 million and diluted earnings per share were $2.49. The operating ratio for the...
UAW member on picket line hit by car, dies at Tennessee plant
(Source: Detroit News, October 22, 2019) DETROIT — A General Motors Co. employee was struck by a car and killed Tuesday while out picketing on the strike line near the automaker's Tennessee plant, according to police. Roy A. McCombs died while on strike with the...
UAW-GM strike, day 37: Voting results trickle in from UAW members
(Source: Detroit News, October 22, 2019) DETROIT — UAW Local 1853 members at the Spring Hill Manufacturing plant in Tennessee voted down the contract 51% to 49% with skilled trades and production votes combined, according to unofficial results on the local's website....
How tentative GM deal stacks up to previous UAW contract
(Source: Detroit News, October 21, 2019) DETROIT — United Auto Workers striking General Motors Co. for the past month demanded the return of production from Mexico and reversal of plans to close the sprawling Lordstown Assembly complex in northeast Ohio’s Mahoning...
Buffett: Berkshire is worth much more as one than broken up
(Source: GuruFocus.com, October 21, 2019) NEW YORK — One argument that has started to gain a lot of traction with Wall Street analysts and owners of Berkshire Hathaway stock over the past few years is the idea that the conglomerate might be broken up after Warren...
Railroad bridge in Houston partially collapses, derailing UP train
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, October 21, 2019) NEW YORK — A railroad bridge has partially collapsed in northeast Houston this morning, causing a train to derail. Union Pacific says it was executing switching operations when the span failed around 1 a.m. this...
Amtrak: Host railroads responsible for on-time performance issues
(Source: Railway Age, October 21, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak Inspector General Kevin H. Winters recently issued a report about the economic impact of sub-standard On-Time Performance (OTP) of Amtrak trains caused by the freight railroads that host and dispatch...
Federal appeals court rules against BMWED in automated track inspection case
(Source: Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division press release, October 18, 2019) SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — A federal appeals court has ruled against the BMWED in our attempt to require BNSF to perform full visual human-conducted track inspections at the bare...
KCS bucks downward trend with cross-border freight boost
(Source: Supply Chain Dive, October 21, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — KCS is exhibiting the effects of overall depressed volume for railroads less than other Class I's due to its substantial freight share that crosses the U.S.-Mexico border. Chemical and petroleum products...
Moody’s Investor Services sees significant drops in Powder River Basin coal production
(Source: Freight Waves, October 21, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Coal production in the Powder River Basin (PRB) could decline significantly in 2020, but by how much remains to be seen, according to a report by Moody’s Investors Services. Full story: Freight Waves
Crude by rail shipments fell slightly in August, Canada Energy Board says
(Source: Canadian Press, October 21, 2019) OTTAWA — The Canada Energy Regulator says exports of crude oil by rail from Canada fell slightly in August to 310,000 barrels per day from 313,000 bpd in July. The August number is up 35 per cent from 230,000 bpd reported in...
DOT proposes rule for LNG transportation
(Source: Railway Age, October 21, 2019) NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), announced that it is publishing a notice...
Stakes remain high as UAW members begin voting on tentative contract
(Source: Detroit News, October 18, 2019) DETROIT — United Auto Workers leaders have a week to convince members to ratify a proposed new contract — and it won't be an easy task, members and experts say. Full story: Detroit News
Opinion: Railroad traffic analysis, a different approach
(Source: Railway Age opinion column by Jim Blaze, October 20, 2019) NEW YORK — It’s third-quarter 2019 railroad financial results reporting time, and sometimes, insight about rail freight markets comes from strange places. One of those might just be the quarterly...
DOT rolls out LNG “freedom gas” rail plan
(Source: Freight Waves, October 18, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump Administration is moving forward to allow railroads to ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) in tank cars through a plan that was immediately rejected by Congressional Democrats. In a proposed...
Freight railroads fight to regain shippers
(Source: Wall Street Journal, October 18, 2019) NEW YORK — CSX Corp. and Union Pacific Corp. are running faster railroads with longer trains and operating more efficiently. They have a bigger challenge ahead in winning over more shippers that remain skeptical after...
Union Pacific plans more job cuts as demand falls off
(Source: Dow Jones, October 17, 2019) NEW YORK — Union Pacific Corp. said it would continue cutting jobs as slower economic growth hampers demand for railroad shipments and as it works to boost productivity. Full story: Morningstar
KCS optimistic about its future
(Source: Freight Waves, October 18, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Although Kansas City Southern declined to provide any guidance on 2020, opportunities to grow cross-border volumes, coupled with additional savings and operational efficiencies as a result of precision...
KCS posts record revenue in Q3 2019 despite flat carload volume
(Source: Progressive Railroading, October 18, 2019) Kansas City Southern logged record third-quarter 2019 revenue of $747.7 million, a 7 percent increase over the same quarter a year ago, the Class I announced today. The railroad was helped by a 21 percent increase in...
BLET News
‘Totally ridiculous’
In response to the UTU’s latest website posting titled, “Are the Teamsters eyeing the Railroad Retirement assets,” BLET National President Don M. Hahs responded with a two word statement: “Totally ridiculous.”
Meany Center includes WMD awareness in 2004-05 hazmat training
The George Meany Center/National Labor College has expanded its hazardous waste/chemical emergency response training programs for 2004-2005 to include Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) awareness training.
There they go again
The following statement by BLET National President Don M. Hahs is in response to recent articles posted on the UTU website.
King County AFL-CIO passes safety resolution
On July 21, the King County Labor Council in Seattle, Wash., adopted a resolution calling for all railroads within county limits to use fully qualified and federally certified locomotive engineers to operate all locomotives.
BLET, Teamsters prepare for Kerry acceptance tonight
Teamster and BLET leaders continue their participation in the Democratic National Convention in Boston this week and will be present tonight when John Kerry accepts the Party’s nomination for president in a primetime speech.
Hoffa addresses the Democratic National Convention
The Teamsters President delivered the following remarks on behalf of working families before the Democratic National Convention on July 27.
W&LE trainmen vote BLET
Conductors and trainmen at the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway have dumped the United Transportation Union in favor of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen.
Fla. AFL-CIO opposes remote control operations in letter to FRA Administrator
Cindy Hall, the President of the Florida State AFL-CIO, has sent a letter to Acting Federal Railroad Administrator Betty Munro asking for greater scrutiny of remote control operations and stricter regulations.
BLET bill boosts transport van safety
A bill sponsored by the BLET’s Missouri State Legislative Board will make off-duty vehicles safer when it becomes effective next month.
Hoffa to address Democratic National Convention
International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa is attending the Democratic National Convention in Boston this week as a delegate from Michigan, and will address the Convention today at 5:45 p.m.
