Rail Industry News
FRA makes $244 million available for capital rail projects
(Source: Federal Railroad Administration press release, August 14, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Consolidated Rail...
Hemphill heading Uinta Basin Railway project
(Source: Railway Age, August 15, 2019) NEW YORK — Rio Grande Pacific Corp. has named rail industry veteran Mark Hemphill to lead development and construction of the Uinta Basin Railway project, a $1.5 billion new-build that, when completed in late 2022 or early 2023,...
Court rules BNSF not liable for fatal accident
(Source: www.lawyers.com, August 15, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — In January 2015, an Illinois man that worked for BNSF Railway Company lost his life while driving to work in a snowstorm when his vehicle slid into a snowplow. The man was told to report to work to help...
Marcus King appointed to lead Teamsters Human Rights and Diversity Commission
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, August 15, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Marcus W. King, President of New Jersey’s Teamsters Local 331, has been appointed as the Director of the Teamsters Human Rights and Diversity Commission. “I am pleased...
Teamsters National Black Caucus 44th annual Educational Conference convenes in Louisville
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, August 15, 2019) LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Today the 44th Annual Teamsters National Black Caucus Conference began in Louisville, Kentucky. This year’s theme was straightforward: “A New Time, A New Vision.” Mac...
International competition and trade uncertainty weigh on U.S. rail volumes for grain
(Source: Freight Waves, August 15, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — While trade uncertainty is a dominant theme in the rail demand outlook for moving grain this fall, other factors such as global market competition come into play when considering how much grain volume could...
North American rail volumes continue downward trend
(Source: Freight Waves, August 15, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — North American year-to-date rail volumes drafted lower again for the week ending August 14, according to the Association of American Railroads. Rail traffic slumped in the U.S. and Mexico but rose in Canada...
CN employee dies after rail car derails
(Source: Canadian Press, August 15, 2019) VAUGHAN, Ontario — Police say a Canadian National Railway employee has died after a rail car derailed in Vaughan. York Regional Police say they were called to the scene of what they described as an industrial accident around 2...
AAR: Rail traffic drops for week ending August 10, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, August 14, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 10, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 533,190...
NS names Sutherland, Farrell to new executive positions
(Source: Norfolk Southern press release, August 14, 2019) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern announced today that its board of directors has approved new responsibilities for Vanessa Allen Sutherland and Michael Farrell, effective Aug. 16: Michael Farrell is senior vice...
Norfolk Southern bridge will no longer be choke point in Findlay, Ohio
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, August 14, 2019) NEW YORK — Now that the widening of the riverbank along the Blanchard River in Findlay, Ohio, is complete, it’s time to add some height to the focus. Officials will decide whether to replace or modify the Norfolk...
Choice Terminal bulk transfer facility opens on Genesee & Wyomings Georgia Southwestern Railroad
(Source: Genesee & Wyoming press release, August 13, 2019) BAINBRIDGE, Ga. — Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) today announced the opening of a Choice Terminal™ bulk transfer facility on its Georgia Southwestern Railroad, Inc. (GSWR) subsidiary in Bainbridge. Operated by...
California high-speed rail finishing designs on alignment into San Francisco
(Source: Streetsblog San Francisco, August 13, 2019) SAN FRANCISCO — Should the maintenance yard be on the east or west side of the mainline in Brisbane and is there a need for additional passing tracks between San Mateo and Redwood City? These are two of the last few...
Analysis: Why rail traffic volumes have been so weak
(Source: Progressive Railroading analysis by Tony Hatch, August 15, 2019) Freight-rail traffic volumes have been shockingly weak. Why? Here are six basic reasons. Full story: Progressive Railroading
Hoffa: Proposed Hours of Service changes would put road safety at risk
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, August 14, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following is a statement from Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa about a notice of proposed rulemaking unveiled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration...
Dow transport average struggles to keep pace, could be market warning sign
(Source: Reuters, August 14, 2019) NEW YORK — The Dow Jones Transportation Average is struggling to get into gear and that could be a sign the market is ready to stall further. The 20-component index of rail operators, airlines, truckers and package delivery stocks is...
States seek to overturn federal directive on freight train crew size
(Source: Freight Waves, August 14, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The states of Illinois, Nevada and Washington are among the latest states that have decided to fight a federal order that prevents states from passing laws that would require freight trains to have a train...
American Airlines demands mechanics’ unions pay for “enormous financial losses” from flight delays, cancellations
(Source: Dallas Morning News, August 13, 2019) DALLAS, Texas — Fresh off a federal court victory, American Airlines is demanding that the mechanics' unions pay for hundreds of flight delays and cancellations over the last two months. Full story: Dallas Morning News
NS picks lead engineering team for 75th Street Corridor project in Chicago
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 13, 2019) Norfolk Southern Railway has chosen Alfred Benesch & Co. and TranSystems to provide program management and track design services for one of four projects that are part of the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project...
Milwaukee-Chicago train service plans facing opposition from CP Rail
(Source: Wisbusiness, August 14, 2019) MILWAUKEE, Wisc. — Plans to expand Amtrak’s Milwaukee-to-Chicago train service are facing opposition from the freight railroad that owns the tracks. In a letter to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Canadian Pacific...
BLET News
33rd community adopts remote control safety resolution
On July 23, the city of Montebello, Calif., became the 33rd U.S. community to enact a remote control safety resolution.
BLE scores another shortline organizing victory
Persistence paid off again as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers scored another shortline organizing victory, this time on the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (SL&A).
BLE, IBT informational meeting set
Members of BLE Division 95 in Cincinnati are sponsoring an informational open house regarding the proposed merger with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters on August 11-13.
BLE, Springfield Terminal reach agreement
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Springfield Terminal Railway reached a new five-year contract agreement in May, which provides for improved health care provisions and a 15 percent pay increase over the life of the deal.
Striking rail traffic controllers reach tentative pact with CP Rail
After more than six weeks on strike, BLE-Rail Canada Traffic Controllers members on Canadian Pacific Railway reached a tentative settlement with the carrier on July 31. The strike will end immediately if the memorandum of settlement is ratified.
Clinton, Iowa, adopts remote safety resolution
The Clinton, Iowa, City Council adopted a remote control safety resolution on July 22, joining a list of 31 other communities in calling for improved safety of remote control train operations.
Remember recent UTU history
As the United Transportation Union spreads campaign promises regarding craft autonomy in its raid of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers in Canada, the BLE reminds its members not to forget recent actions by the UTU to combine operating crafts in the United States.
BLE-IBT merger documents online
Documents governing the proposed BLE-Teamsters merger are now available in the members area of the BLE website, in line with Section 1(e)(2) of the BLE Constitution & Bylaws.
Commerce, Calif., enacts remote control safety resolution
The City Council of Commerce, Calif., voted last night to adopt a remote control safety resolution, becoming the 31st U.S. community to pass such a measure.
BLE Advisory Board approves Teamster merger documents
In one of the most historic moments in the 140-year history of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the union’s Advisory Board yesterday unanimously approved documents that govern a merger with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT).
