Rail Industry News
STB moves to rehab outdated Uniform Rail Costing System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...
Man crushed by rail cars identified as UP employee
(Source: Associated Press, August 21, 2019) BEAUMONT, Texas — Investigators say a Union Pacific worker has died after being pinned between two railway tanker cars in Southeast Texas. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office says 39-year-old Travis Andrepont of Louisiana...
Time is nigh for overnight passenger train service between Montreal and NYC
(Source: Montreal Gazette, August 21, 2019) MONTREAL — The time is nigh for an overnight train between Montreal and New York City, says François Rebello. The Montreal entrepreneur and former Coalition Avenir Québec MNA says he has lined up $10 million in...
UP train cars derail near downtown San Antonio
(Source: San Antonio Express-News, August 21, 2019) SAN ANTONIO, Texas — About 13 cars derailed, including a locomotive that began leaking fuel, as a train was approaching downtown Tuesday night on the West Side. The train cars derailed just before 10 p.m. in the 2000...
Third UP train derails in just over a month at same Spokane rail yard
(Source: Television station KREM, August 21, 2019) SPOKANE, Wash. — Two empty Union Pacific train cars derailed near the intersection of Sprague Avenue and North Havana Street on Tuesday night. This is the third Union Pacific Train Derailment in just over a month in...
Court rejects rail shippers class formation request; Senators press for rail reform
(Source: Freight Waves, August 20, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Rail shippers will not be able to form a class action lawsuit to argue against alleged fuel surcharge price fixing, a federal appeals court ruled on August 16. A three-member panel of judges from the U.S....
Taxation of lost wages awards under FELA: the Illinois appellate court applies Loos v. BNSF
(Source: Lexology, August 21, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — In Munoz v. Norfolk Southern Railway Company, 2018 IL App (1st) 171009 (Munoz I), Plaintiff Munoz sued his railroad employer under the FELA for an on-duty personal injury. A jury awarded Munoz a large sum...
BLET News
Missouri AFL-CIO enacts remote control resolution
The Missouri AFL-CIO has joined affiliated bodies in five other states in passing a remote control safety resolution.
North Carolina AFL-CIO adopts remote control safety resolution
Allies from different unions helped delegates from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers pass a remote control safety resolution at the North Carolina State AFL-CIO Convention.
Town Hall meetings scheduled next week
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers will conduct four Town Hall Meetings in three days next week to answer membership questions regarding the proposed merger with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
BLE Canada website posts Teamster documents
The BLE’s Ottawa office has launched a new website to provide Canadian members with information regarding the proposed merger with Teamsters Canada.
President Hahs statement on Labor Day 2003
BLE International President Don Hahs issued the following statement regarding Labor Day 2003.
President Hahs responds to UTU statements
BLE International President Don Hahs issued the following statement in response to UTU President Byron Boyd’s “state of the union” address delivered at a regional meeting in Philadelphia and posted to the UTU website on August 25.
36th community passes remote control safety resolution
On August 11, the city of Mankato, Minn. joined 35 other cities in passing a resolution opposing remote control locomotives within its jurisdiction.
Nevada AFL-CIO calls for remote control safety regulations
Delegates attending the 47th annual Nevada AFL-CIO Convention passed a resolution calling for improved safety in the operation of remote control locomotives on August 26.
Former BLE President Delaney dies
Former BLE International President Robert E. Delaney died of congestive heart failure yesterday. He was 84 years old and had endured a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
BLE recognizes 35-year employee
BLE International President Don M. Hahs recognized Betty A. Child, who today celebrates her 35th anniversary as an employee of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
