Rail Industry News
NJ Transit has spent $302 million on PTC
(Source: www.nj.com, September 16, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — As of the end of August, NJ Transit has spent $302 million on Positive Train Control, said Nancy Snyder, an NJ Transit spokeswoman. Full story: www.nj.com
Jury awards $17 million to 3 plaintiffs in 2017 Amtrak crash at DuPont, Wash.
(Source: Associated Press, September 13, 2019) TACOMA, Wash. — Three people who sued over a deadly Amtrak derailment in Washington state in 2017 have been awarded nearly $17 million by a jury for their pain and suffering. Full story: www.koin.com
Amtrak reveals details about nonstop New York-D.C. service, new sleeping train amenities
(Source: USA Today, September 13, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — A series of changes are on track to debut soon on Amtrak trains. After revealing new amenities exclusive to its new Acela Nonstop service between New York and Washington on Thursday, the company announced it's...
STB proposes rules to make contesting rates easier
(Source: Freight Waves, September 13, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is seeking feedback on two proposed rules aimed at making rail rate review procedures more efficient and accessible, especially for smaller shippers. One proposed...
Idle mines portend dark days for top U.S. coal region
(Source: Associated Press, September 15, 2019) GILLETTE, Wyo. — At two of the world’s biggest coal mines, the finances got so bad that their owner couldn’t even get toilet paper on credit. Warehouse technician Melissa Worden divvied up what remained of the last case,...
Hoffa: Teamsters stand in solidarity with striking GM UAW members
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, September 15, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following is a statement from Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa about the United Auto Workers’ (UAW’s) decision to strike at General Motors (GM) tonight....
Nearly 50,000 UAW workers go on strike against GM, America’s biggest auto maker
(Source: CNN Business, September 16, 2019) NEW YORK — The United Auto Workers union went out on strike against General Motors Sunday night, the first work stoppage in the US auto industry in 12 years. The union's nearly 50,000 hourly fulltime and temporary workers...
UP’s Big Boy locomotive concludes 150th anniversary celebration with “Great Race Across the Southwest”
(Source: Union Pacific press release, September 5, 2019) OMAHA, Neb. — The world's largest steam locomotive, Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014, will embark on a third and final tour celebrating the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad's completion, giving...
Port of Savannah to expand rail service to Chicago
(Source: Savannah Morning News, September 12, 2019) SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Hostess City will soon have a larger presence in the Windy City as the Georgia Ports Authority introduces dual rail service from the Port of Savannah to Chicago, with cargo reaching the midwestern...
FRA releases accident report on CSX derailment in Princeton, Ind.
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, September 12, 2019) NEW YORK — The Federal Railroad Administration just released its Accident Investigation Report on the derailment of a CSX freight train in Princeton, Ind. on June 17, 2018. The train derailed 22 loads and one...
UP cleans site of derailment in Dupo, Ill.; environmental consultants say area is safe for residents
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, September 12, 2019) NEW YORK — Damages from the Union Pacific train derailment in Dupo, Ill., appear to be limited to just the rail cars and track. About 13 rail cars spilled on Sept. 10, with one of the carriers catching on fire....
CSX chief outlines company’s changing mindset as e-commerce grows
(Source: Freight Waves, September 12, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The head of CSX said his company needs to change the way it does business so that CSX can compete with trucks and be a reliable option in the future where e-commerce is booming and coal is declining....
Railroads see headwinds cutting volumes for rest of 2019
(Source: Freight Waves, September 6, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Loose truck capacity, trade uncertainty and lower coal demand are among the headwinds that some Class I railroads are seeing for the remainder of 2019. Full story: Freight Waves
PSR: Promise or peril?
(Source: Railway Age, September 13, 2019) NEW YORK — For rail customers, Precision Scheduled Railroading is a mixed blessing. At a North East Association of Rail Shippers (NEARS) conference earlier this year, PSR’s promises and perils took center stage. Full story:...
AAR: Rail traffic down again for the week ending September 7, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, September 11, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending September 7, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was...
No fare hikes as Metra relishes capital infusion
(Source: Daily Herald, September 12, 2019) CHICAGO — After years of gloomy budget forecasts, Metra riders Wednesday received a reprieve from fare hikes in 2020. The railroad has an estimated $1.45 billion in new money coming from the state over five years, courtesy of...
FRA approves Virginia higher-speed rail project’s environmental plan
(Source: Progressive Railroading, September 11, 2019) The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has signed off on the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed higher-speed intercity passenger-rail project between the District of Columbia and Richmond,...
Update on investigation into UP train derailment in Dupo, Ill.
(Source: Television station Fox 2 Now, September 11, 2019) DUPO, Ill. — Union Pacific crews spent Wednesday cleaning up a massive train derailment in Dupo. Thirteen cars derailed at a train yard in the 300 block of Main Street Tuesday afternoon, causing a huge fire....
Missouri girl awarded record $17 million in damages against BNSF
(Source: Television station KFVS, September 11, 2019) CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY, Mo. — A Missouri girl was awarded $17 million in a personal injury case against BNSF Railway. An attorney for the girl, who was identified in the lawsuit as E.H.S., suffered massive brain...
FRA should update its grade crossing prediction model, Inspector General says
(Source: Progressive Railroading, September 11, 2019) The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has effective procedures to determine whether grade-crossing incident data are complete and accurate, however the agency needs to update its accident prediction model and...
BLET News
Union Privilege launches two new Union Plus programs
Union Privilege is starting off 2004 by adding two new Union Plus programs to its growing list of benefits and services — the Union Plus Health Club Discounts and Home Heating Oil Discounts programs.
Improved vision care benefits now available
The newly ratified BLET National Agreement provides an improved vision care plan.
Greene Fund now open to female children of BLET members
The Franklin P. Greene Educational Loan Fund has recently been authorized to allow lending to female children of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen members. Previously, loans were only issued to male children.
UTU evicted in Michigan
Due to its unaffiliated status, the United Transportation Union (UTU) was evicted from its offices in the Michigan State AFL-CIO building in Lansing, Mich.
Meany Center adds four rail worker hazmat training courses
The George Meany Center-National Labor College has added four hazardous materials training courses for railroad workers to its 2004 schedule.
Members: Pick your candidate
George W. Bush continues his attack on working families, from repealing ergonomics to taking away overtime to attempting to bankrupt our unions with outrageous reporting requirements. Put simply, the Bush administration is out of control. Fortunately, we have the power to stop this assault on working families.
Teamsters Canada Rail Conference scores sweeping victory over UTU at CP Rail
A plan by United Transportation Union leaders to raid the former Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers on the Canadian Pacific Railway has completely backfired on the aggressor union, resulting in a total and sweeping victory for the newly formed Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC).
Kentucky State AFL-CIO passes remote control resolution
The Kentucky State AFL-CIO passed a resolution asking the U.S. Congress to urge the Federal Railroad Administration to conduct a rulemaking process for remote control locomotives.
BLET members on CN’s former GTW territory ratify new contract
CN and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) announced today the ratification of a new labor agreement by BLET members on the railroad’s former Grand Trunk Western (GTW) territory in the United States.
New scholarship opportunity available for 2004
A new scholarship opportunity for the children all railroaders in all crafts will be available in 2004.
