Rail Industry News
Indiana drivers asking for solutions on stopped trains
(Source: Television station WLFI, September 5, 2019) LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Drivers on the south-side of Lafayette said they've become accustomed to trains stopped for nearly thirty minutes. City officials are responding to driver's concerns. Full story: www.wlfi.com
Nevada AFL-CIO calls for mandatory two-person train crews
(Source: Progressive Railroading, September 5, 2019) At its 63rd Constitution Convention in Las Vegas last week, the Nevada State AFL-CIO adopted a safety resolution in support of federal legislation that would mandate two-person train crews. Full story: Progressive...
UP train carrying liquefied gas derails at Albina Yard, cracks overpass beam
(Source: Associated Press, September 7, 2019) PORTLAND, Ore. — Union Pacific says two locomotives and three tank cars containing liquefied petroleum gas derailed in Portland Saturday morning, striking and cracking a support beam to an overpass providing access to a...
FRA report confirms NS derailment in Pittsburgh could have been prevented
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, September 6, 2019) NEW YORK — A Norfolk Southern Railway train derailment at Pittsburgh’s Station Square last year could have been prevented. According to a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) report, a broken rail was discovered...
Louisiana family sues Union Pacific after relative dies in ambulance unable to cross train tracks
(Source: Television station KALB, September 6, 2019) ALEXANDRIA, La. — The people of Bunkie had issues in the past with railroad crossings being blocked by trains, hindering them from crossing the tracks and getting to where they need to be. Back in June, this issue...
New Orleans Loyola Avenue terminal to get a facelift after $3.7 million federal grant
(Source: NOLA Media Group, September 5, 2019) NEW ORLEANS — Armed with a federal grant to improve accessibility for passengers, the 65-year-old Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans is getting an upgrade that will bring it into compliance with federal disability...
Jury mulls compensation for injured passengers in 2017 Amtrak DuPont crash
(Source: Associated Press, September 4, 2019) TACOMA, Wash. — Attorneys for people injured in a deadly Amtrak derailment in Washington in 2017 have told jurors in a civil case it’s up to them to decide how much compensation should be given to those who suffered broken...
Florida’s SunRail to resume normal service on Friday
(Source: Fox 35 Orlando, September 4, 2019) ORLANDO, Fla. — SunRail expects to resume its normal service for customers on Friday, Sept. 6 —beginning with the regular 5:06 a.m. southbound train from Sanford as well as the 5:30 a.m. southbound train from DeBary. The...
Canadian grain producers eye port congestion, winter conditions
(Source: Freight Waves, September 5, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The 2019-20 crop year is well underway in Canada, and grain shippers are watching how Canadian National and Canadian Pacific will manage service levels during another year of potentially high grain...
After verbal fallout, UP nixes plan to fine truckers for missed appointments
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, September 4, 2019) NEW YORK — Union Pacific’s tough talk did not last very long in the ring. The Class 1 railroad company planned on instituting a system that would fine truck carriers that were late picking up or dropping off at...
Report: U.S. railroads face $5 billion in lost revenues as coal demand halves by 2030
(Source: S&P Global Platts, September 4, 2019) HOUSTON — U.S. railroads are facing roughly $5 billion in lost revenues as utility coal demand declines to roughly half the 2020 level in 2030, according to a report issued Wednesday by Moody's. BNSF Railway and Union...
Union Pacific cuts volume outlook for rest of 2019
(Source: Associated Press, September 4, 2019) OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific expects to haul less freight in the second half of the year than it previously predicted, which isn’t a good sign for the economy. The Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad said Wednesday that the...
Roanoke city leaders say Norfolk Southern failed to follow protocol with unexpected layoffs
(Source: Television station WSET, September 4, 2019) ROANOKE, Va. — City leaders in Roanoke say Norfolk Southern failed to follow protocol when it furloughed 130 employees. Full story: www.wset.com
Conway workers, elected officials caught off guard by Norfolk Southern job cuts
(Source: Ellwood City Ledger, September 4, 2019) CONWAY, Pa. — Norfolk Southern Railway did not give local leaders prior notice before cutting more than 50 employees at the Conway Yards switching station Tuesday. “It was mostly mechanics and electricians who were let...
BLET condemns Norfolk Southern furloughs as railroad puts profits before people
(Source: Virginian-Pilot, September 4, 2019) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern furloughed nearly 300 employees in Roanoke and Pennsylvania this week. A spokesman for the company confirmed that 130 people were furloughed at its Roanoke properties. In Pennsylvania,...
AAR reports rail traffic decline in August and during the week ending August 31, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, September 4, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 31, 2019, as well as volumes for August 2019. U.S. railroads...
Rail industry publication attacks New York Times over Lac-Megantic oil train story
(Source: Desmog Blog, August 26, 2019) NEW YORK — Six years after the oil train derailment and explosion in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec — which claimed 47 lives and destroyed the downtown of this small lakeside town — The New York Times reviewed what progress has been made...
New oil-by-rail study encourages ND officials seeking to overturn Washington law
(Source: Bismarck Tribune, August 29, 2019) BISMARCK, N.D. — A federal study examining the volatility of Bakken oil is giving North Dakota officials encouragement in their petition to overturn a Washington state law that targets oil train shipments. Full story:...
Civil trial begins in fatal Amtrak derailment in DuPont
(Source: Television station KIRO 7, September 3, 2019) TACOMA, Wash. — The first lawsuit filed following the derailment of Amtrak 501 near DuPont went before a jury Tuesday. Full story: www.kiro7.com
CSX, NS ready themselves for Dorian
(Source: Freight Waves, September 3, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Eastern Class I railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern say customers should expect service delays this week as Hurricane Dorian brings heavy rains and strong winds to the southeastern coast of the U.S. CSX...
BLET News
BLE Job Bank: Amtrak
Amtrak, the National Railroad Passenger Corp., is recruiting Locomotive Engineers to work out of the following locations: Jacksonville, Fla.; Charlotte, N.C.; and Lorton, V.A.
UTU guilty of raiding BLE on CP Railway
An Impartial Umpire with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) ruled that the United Transportation Union was guilty of raiding BLE members in July when it encouraged BLE members to sign UTU membership cards at the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Questions and Answers now on website
The list of agreed-to Questions and Answers regarding the BLE’s tentative national contract is now available on the BLE website.
43rd U.S. community passes remote control safety resolution
The city of Berwyn, Ill., recently passed a remote control safety resolution. Berwyn joins 42 other communities in passing remote control resolutions.
IBT/IBLE scores another organizing win over UTU
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters/International Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Rail Operating Employees Council (IBT/IBLE) scored another victory as it successfully organized employees at the New York & Atlantic Railway.
Georgia AFL-CIO passes remote control safety resolution
In late October, the Georgia State AFL-CIO unanimously passed a remote control safety resolution, becoming the 10th AFL-CIO State Federation to enact such a measure.
Irvington, Ill., enacts remote control safety resolution
The Village of Irvington, Ill. joined 41 other U.S. communities when it recently enacted a remote control safety resolution.
Two Mich. communities pass remote control safety resolutions
Two more communities in the state of Michigan have passed remote control safety resolutions. Melvindale and Redford Township joined 39 other communities in questioning the safety of remote control operations.
Tentative national contract available
A copy of the BLE’s tentative national agreement with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee is now available on the BLE website.
River Rouge, Mich., becomes the 39th U.S. community to oppose remote control
The city of River Rouge, Mich., has become the 39th U.S. community to pass a remote control safety resolution.
