Rail Industry News
PTC update: Class Is press ahead to meet implementation deadline
(Source: Progressive Railroading, October 10, 2019) With the deadline a little more than a year away, railroads continue to chip away at positive train control (PTC) implementation. The 42 roads that are subject to the federal mandate — and end-of-2020 deadline —...
Can PSR save the railroads’ third-quarter profits?
(Source: Freight Waves, October 10, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — As the third-quarter earnings season kicks off next week for the Class I railroads, one question will be the degree to which the railroads’ safeguard themselves against lower volumes as a result of their...
Demand for coal falls to 42-year low
(Source: CNN Business, October 10, 2019) NEW YORK — U.S. power plants are expected to consume less coal next year than at any point since President Jimmy Carter was in office, according to government forecasts released on Tuesday. Although Trump has tried to boost...
AAR: Rail traffic declines again during week ending October 5, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, October 9, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending October 5, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 515,061...
Railroad unemployment and sickness benefits will increase slightly due to new sequestration rate
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, September 27, 2019) CHICAGO — Starting October 1, 2019, the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will reduce railroad unemployment and sickness insurance benefits by 5.9 percent, down from the current 6.2 percent...
Erie-built locomotives honor military, police, first responders
(Source: GoErie.com, October 9, 2019) ERIE, Pa. — Lake Shore Railway Historical Museum in North East is getting ready to show off this Saturday and Sunday as many as three CSX locomotives built in Erie. Full story: www.goerie.com
Opinion: As Amtrak eliminates white-tablecloth dining on some trains, here’s a reminder to make “someday” plans now
(Source: Column by Melissa Oyler published at Charlotte Five, October 10, 2019) CHARLOTTE, N.C. — I’ve never ridden across the United States via train, though I’ve always said I would — one of these days. You know, when I have the time. My experience with...
In Missouri’s capital city, Amtrak riders wait under tents while train station is inspected
(Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 10, 2019) JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Riders hitting the rails in Missouri’s capital city might find the new waiting area at the Jefferson City Amtrak station a bit rustic. Rather than the regular waiting area inside a historic...
OmniTRAX acquires Winchester & Western
(Source: Herald-Mail, October 9, 2019) MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The leaders of one of North America’s largest privately held rail-centric transportation and logistic-services companies celebrated the acquisition of Winchester & Western Railroad Co. at a reception Tuesday...
UAW-GM strike, day 24: Talks continue after downbeat note from UAW
(Source: Detroit News, October 9, 2019) DETROIT — Job security is at the center of negotiations between General Motors Co. and the United Auto Workers, locked in a nationwide strike that continued into its 24th day Wednesday. Full story: Detroit News
U.S. steelmakers, aluminum companies sue railroads over alleged price fixing
(Source: S&P Global Platts, October 9, 2019) PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Several US steelmakers and aluminum companies have filed a pair of lawsuits alleging the country's four largest railroad companies conspired to fix prices over a period of at least five years, according to...
Total rail traffic declined 7.1% from 2018 in week ending October 5
(Source: Freight Waves, October 9, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Carloads on the railroads remained under water in the first week of the fourth quarter 2019, which ended on October 5. Total traffic on U.S. railroads declined 7.1% to 515,061 carloads compared to the same...
RRB names Chief Information Officer
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, October 8, 2019) CHICAGO — The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has named Terryne Murphy as its Chief Information Officer (CIO). As CIO, Ms. Murphy will head the RRB’s Bureau of Information Services and its staff...
Metra planning $2.6 billion of improvements over 5 years
(Source: Daily Herald, October 8, 2019) CHICAGO — A comfy resting spot, an on-time train and somewhere to keep warm in winter? For Metra riders with low expectations it might sound too good to be true, but agency leaders on Tuesday promised nearly $2.6 billion in...
Canadian heavy oil prices fall as Alberta’s oil-by-rail deal nears
(Source: Bloomberg, October 8, 2019) CALGARY — Canadian heavy oil prices have weakened ahead of an anticipated announcement that Alberta will ease production limits in exchange for shipping more crude by rail. Full story: Financial Post
Coast Guard agrees to long-term fix for Portal Bridge delays that impact NE Corridor
(Source: Politico, October 8, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Coast Guard has agreed to place permanent restrictions on when tall boats can pass under the Portal Bridge, a century-old rail crossing in New Jersey that has caused major delays for commuters and...
UAW members expect strike to be worth it when GM agreement is reached
(Source: Detroit News, October 8, 2019) DETROIT — United Auto Workers members striking General Motors Co. say their expectations for a new four-year contract remain high as the work stoppage extends into a fourth week. Full story: Detroit News
7th Circuit strikes down Wisconsin intangible property tax on railroads
(Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, October 8, 2019) MILWAUKEE, Wisc. — Wisconsin's effort to tax a railroad's custom software has been ruled unlawful by a federal appeals court. Union Pacific Railroad Co. refused to pay more than $2.6 million Wisconsin claimed it...
Here’s why railroads are facing lawsuits from dozens of shippers
(Source: Supply Chain Dive, October 8, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — A downpour of lawsuits hit the four largest Class I railroads on Sept. 30. In total, 24 lawsuits were filed against BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific. The suits came from shippers who alleged...
Railroads to renew push for one-man crews in contract talks
(Source: Associated Press, October 8, 2019) OMAHA, Neb. — The biggest U.S. freight railroads appear ready to renew their push to reduce their crews to one person from the current two-man operation used at major railroads now. Full story: Minneapolis Star-Tribune
BLET News
Guest Column: FRA urges use of two-way EOTs
In 1997 the Federal Railroad Administration issued a new regulation to require the use of two-way end-of-train (EOT) telemetry devices. At the time the regulation was issued, FRA had identified eleven accidents, which might have been prevented had the trains been equipped with two-way EOTs. There have been modifications to the EOT rules since then.
Funeral arrangements for Brother Heath Pape
Funeral services for Brother Heath Pape of BLET Division 197 (San Antonio, Texas) will be held on Thursday, July 1 and Friday, July 2.
New merchandise available at BLET Online Store
A new shipment of union-made BLET merchandise is now available through the National Division.
BLET member dies in collision
Brother Heath Pape, a member of BLET Division 197 in San Antonio, Texas, was killed in the collision between a Union Pacific train and a BNSF train on Monday, June 28. Brother Pape had just joined the BLET. He was 23 years old.
Train derails, releases toxic fumes
The BLET Safety Task Force is en route to the scene of a collision between two trains this morning near San Antonio, Texas, in order to assist the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation. The collision and derailment caused an ammonium chloride and chlorine gas spill.
BLET member dies in collision with gasoline tanker truck
BLET Division 230 (Meridian, Miss.) member Dennis Vinson was killed in a collision between his Norfolk Southern train and a gasoline tanker truck on June 25. He was 58 years old.
58th community opposes remote control operations
On June 7, Beaver County, Utah, became the 58th community to voice opposition to the unregulated use of remote control locomotives in their community.
EUMA deadline is July 1
Members planning to attend the Eastern Union Meeting Association in August are advised that the hotel registration deadline is July 1.
57th community passes remote control safety resolution
Champaign County, Ill., has joined a growing list of communities in opposing remote control operations. In addition to Champaign County, 56 other communities have passed remote control safety resolutions.
Detroit AFL-CIO calls for an end to remote control
The Metropolitan Detroit Central Labor Council (CLC), AFL-CIO, passed a remote control safety resolution on June 16, which called on the Federal Railroad Administration to reopen its remote control docket and study this issue further.
