Rail Industry News
STB reports three Class Is were revenue adequate in 2018
(Source: Progressive Railroading, September 9, 2019) The Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced last week that the Class Is that achieved "revenue adequacy" in 2018 were CSX, Canadian Pacific's Soo Line Corp. and Union Pacific Railroad. A railroad is considered...
Georgia Teamsters go on strike at Republic Services
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, September 9, 2019) CUMMING, Ga. — Sanitation workers went on strike at Republic Services [NYSE: RSG] here this morning to protest the company’s violations of federal laws that protect workers’ rights. The...
UPS: Class Is are missing the mark when it comes to on-time delivery
(Source: Progressive Railroading, September 9, 2019) The head of transportation for United Parcel Service (UPS) can sum up Class Is’ service performance for much of this year in one word: underwhelming. Although they got off to a good start in 2019’s first three...
FRA says Positive Train Control 87% done
(Source: Railway Age, September 9, 2019) NEW YORK — With 16 months left until the Congressionally mandated Dec. 31, 2020 deadline for full implementation of PTC (Positive Train Control), the U.S. railroad industry is drawing close, according to the Federal Railroad...
U.S. officials OK BNSF plan for northern Idaho bridges across Lake Pend Oreille
(Source: Associated Press, September 6, 2019) BOISE, Idaho — BNSF Railway's plan to build two bridges as part of a second railroad line in northern Idaho to accommodate increased train traffic and future growth meets environmental requirements, federal officials said...
KCS EVP Erdman sells $871,347 in company stock
(Source: Trent Times, September 7, 2019) NEW YORK — Kansas City Southern EVP Warren K. Erdman sold 6,840 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 4. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.39, for a total transaction of...
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 News
2004 BLET timebooks available in January
Timebooks from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen will be made available by request after the first of the year.
New Year message from President Hahs
BLE International President Don M. Hahs issued the following statement today.
BLE Divisions ratify BNSF on-property agreement
Voting as a block for the first time since the 1995 merger, BLE Divisions across the entire BNSF property overwhelmingly approved an historic on-property agreement with 93% of the Divisions returning a ballot.
Space remains for Jan. 18 Local Chairman workshop
Space is still available for members interested in attending the Education & Training Department’s Local Chairman workshop at the George Meany Center from January 18-23.
47th community enacts remote control safety resolution
Central City, Ill., is the 47th community to enact a remote control safety resolution.
BLE to conduct four S-T Workshops in 2004
The BLE’s Education and Training Department will conduct four Secretary-Treasurer Compliance Workshops next year prior to the March 31 deadline for filing Department of Labor reports.
FRA publishes rule on locomotive horns
On December 18, the Federal Railroad Administration published an Interim Final Rule on the use of locomotive horns at highway-rail grade crossings.
46th community enacts remote control safety resolution
Harris County, Texas, unanimously passed a remote control safety resolution on December 16, becoming the 13th county in the United States to enact such a measure.
Roanoke County, Va., passes remote safety resolution
The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors voted to pass a remote control safety resolution at their December 16 meeting. The resolution asks the Federal Railroad Administration to adopt mandatory regulations for remote control locomotive operations.
Illinois State AFL-CIO enacts remote control safety measure
The AFL-CIO State Federation in Illinois has unanimously enacted a remote control safety resolution that seeks to prohibit the operation of remote control trains in the state until enforceable federal safety regulations are enacted.
