Rail Industry News
Two grants aim to improve Amtrak Midwest network
(Source: Railway Age, August 28, 2019) NEW YORK — A pair of State Departments of Transportation received federal grants to improve service along the Amtrak Midwest network. Full story: Railway Age
Opinion: Is intermodal rail stalling?
(Source: Freight Waves opinion column by Jim Blaze, August 27, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — As a transportation mode choice, where is intermodal rail heading? Author’s note — this is not a financial analysis to help determine whether to buy or sell railroad stock. This...
Former CSX leader Carpenter dies
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 28, 2019) Former CSX President and Chief Executive Officer Alvin "Pete" Carpenter died last week after battling cancer. He was 77. Carpenter served as CSX president and CEO from 1992 to 1999. He also served as vice chairman of...
Rail, infrastructure gains give Canadian grain shippers reason for optimism
(Source: The Western Producer, August 22, 2019) CALGARY, Alberta — Canada’s two major rail companies have taken heat over the last few years for failure to provide consistent movement of agricultural products. However, now it looks like genuine change is underway. The...
Amtrak Cascades route to get $38 million for new rail cars
(Source: Radio station KUOW, August 22, 2019) SEATTLE, Wash. — Washington State Department of Transportation is getting roughly $38 million to procure new railcars for the Amtrak Cascades route, which was a recommendation from National Transportation Safety Board...
Short Line association tells DOT, “we’re important, too”
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, August 21, 2019) NEW YORK — The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), represented by Jo Strang, Senior Vice President, Safety & Regulatory Policy, testified Monday before a Small Business Administration...
STB moves to rehab outdated Uniform Rail Costing System
(Source: Railway Age, August 23, 2019) NEW YORK — If you think a currently under way Surface Transportation Board (STB) search for outside experts to rehabilitate and modernize the 30-year-old Uniform Rail Costing System (URCS) is not of significant importance to...
Gov. Murphy orders NJ Transit to release monthly rail performance metrics
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 21, 2019) New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy earlier this week signed an executive order to require New Jersey Transit to share its rail performance metrics with the public on a monthly basis. Full story: Progressive Railroading
BNSF works to derail Oklahoma’s new law to prevent blocked crossings
(Source: The Oklahoman, August 23, 2019) OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Rail operator BNSF is seeking to derail an Oklahoma law that requires railroads operating in the state to minimize blocking road-rail crossings to no more than 10 minutes without good reason. Full story:...
Bakken oil pipeline flows hit six-month high as rail to East Coast drops
(Source: Reuters, August 22, 2019) HOUSTON — Crude pipeline flows from North Dakota’s Bakken shale field have climbed to the highest in six months after the June closure of the largest U.S. East Coast refinery cut crude-by-rail volumes, according to traders and market...
Canada, U.S. expand preclearance agreement to include cargo
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 19, 2019) A preclearance agreement to expedite the flow of travel and trade between Canada and the United States is now in force, Canadian and U.S. government officials announced last week. Full story: Progressive Railroading
David Koch, anti-union billionaire, dies at age 79
(Source: Bloomberg, August 23, 2019) NEW YORK — David Koch, the industrialist and libertarian who used his fortune to transform American politics, has died. He was 79. He and his brother Charles Koch, 83, became better known for pushing their views than their business...
AAR: Rail traffic down again for week ending August 17, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, August 21, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 17, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 537,617...
“Traqueros” laid rail to California and formed Fort Worth’s first Mexican neighborhood
(Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 21, 2019) FORT WORTH, Texas — By the 1920s, Mexican immigrants composed most of the railroad track workers or “gandy dancers” in the United States. Companies like Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe sought to employ traqueros...
KCS announces 19th annual Holiday Express schedule
(Source: Kansas City Southern press release, August 20, 2019) KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern (KCS) announced today its schedule for the 19th annual Holiday Express train, which will stop in 20 communities in five U.S. states on 25 dates. Visitors can board...
Door opens on Japanese bullet train at 175 mph
(Source: BBC News, August 21, 2019) LONDON — A Japanese bullet train left one of its doors open while travelling at 280km/h (175mph) on Wednesday. None of the 340 passengers were injured, and the train's operator made an emergency stop when he noticed the indicator...
Greenbrier outlines railcar design improvements
(Source: Freight Waves, August 21, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Railcar manufacturer and lessor Greenbrier is seeking to develop railcars that are lighter and hold more volume but are also shorter, according to a report citing the company’s sustainability initiatives....
Wisconsin DOT to receive $25.7 million to upgrade train cars on Amtrak’s Hiawatha line
(Source: Television station Fox 6 Now, August 20, 2019) MILWAUKEE, Wisc. — There will soon be a new look for the trains that connect Milwaukee and Chicago on Amtrak's Hiawatha line. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will be awarded up to $25.7 million for the...
Amtrak re-opens Chicago-Louisiana route
(Source: Television station WJTV, August 21, 2019) JACKSON, Miss. — Amtrak has opened back up its full route between Chicago and Louisiana. It’s been three months since Amtrak was cut off from heading any further south from Jackson, but now less flooding has closed...
$18 million upgrade at Newark Penn to benefit NJ Transit, Amtrak riders
(Source: Patch.com, August 20, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — One of the most vital transit hubs on the Northeast Corridor is getting an $18.4 million upgrade, officials announced Tuesday. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has earmarked $18,445,000 in federal...
BLET News
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.
President Hahs statement on Veterans Day 2003
The following is a statement from BLE International President Don Hahs.
NS, BLE reach agreement
Norfolk Southern Railway Co. and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) have reached a new agreement, with terms through 2009, that continues to link engineers’ compensation to Norfolk Southern’s corporate performance.
BLE Job Bank: Springfield Terminal
BLE General Chairman Mike Twombly reports that the Springfield Terminal Railway is looking to hire approximately six certified locomotive engineers.
BLE critical of Amtrak Board nominee
International President Don M. Hahs said today that the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers is surprised over the United Transportation Union’s endorsement of Louis Thompson, a pro-privatization nominee to Amtrak’s Board of Directors.
BLE-IBT Town Hall meeting Wednesday in Salem, Va.
The BLE will hold a Town Hall Meeting on November 5 in Salem, Va., regarding the proposed merger with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Fund set up to find missing BLE member, 4 others
Friends and family members of five Tucson men lost in the Gulf of California have set up a fund to help cover the costs of hiring charter planes to look for the men. Donations to the Fishermen Rescue Fund can be made at any Bank of America branch.
BLE, Tex-Mex sign landmark remote control agreement
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers has reached a landmark contract agreement with the Texas-Mexican Railway that allows for the safe implementation of remote control operations and provides major pay raises.
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO passes remote control safety resolution
The Wisconsin AFL-CIO has adopted a resolution calling for the State of Wisconsin and the Federal Railroad Administration to end the use of unregulated remote control locomotive operations within the state.
