Rail Industry News
Train derailments plague NW Iowa
(Source: www.nwestiowa.com, August 10, 2019) SHELDON, Iowa — Railroad tracks in N’West Iowa have been in the perfect storm during the last 13 months. Three major derailments — two involving BNSF and one involving Union Pacific — have taken place since June 22, 2018....
South Florida Sysco workers vote to join Teamsters
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, August 9, 2019) MIAMI, Fla. — Sysco workers notched another union election victory today after 130 warehouse workers voted for Teamsters Local 769 representation. The workers join 132 drivers at Sysco...
Fire extinguished on CSX bridge over Susquehanna River
(Source: Baltimore Sun, August 9, 2019) BALTIMORE, Md. — No injuries were reported and all railway operations have resumed after a fire on the CSX railroad bridge, which spans the Susquehanna River between Harford and Cecil counties, was reported Friday afternoon....
Trucking rates putting more pressure on railroad industry
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, August 8, 2019) NEW YORK — Intermodal is still less expensive than on-road trucking, but the savings have been less over the last five years. Full story: Railway Track & Structures
Big tech companies ignore NTSB’s pleas on rail safety
(Source: Politico, August 10, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — In late 2016, federal investigators probing a fatal crash between a confused truck driver and a California commuter train made a plea to Google, Apple and Microsoft: Add information on the nation’s hundreds of...
RRB chairman appoints Cameron as assistant
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, August 8, 2019) CHICAGO — Kimberley M. Cameron has been named as an Assistant to the Chairman of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), Erhard R. Chorlé. At the time of her appointment, Ms. Cameron served as the...
RRB appoints Director of Programs
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, August 5, 2019) CHICAGO — The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has named Crystal Coleman as its Director of Programs. As a result, Ms. Coleman will be responsible for overseeing all operations to process and pay...
Remembering the Hoosier State (1980-2019)
(Source: Railway Age column by David Peter Alan, August 8, 2019) NEW YORK — Amtrak’s Hoosier State train, Nos. 850 and 851, died on Sunday, June 30 at Indianapolis, after a long illness. She was 38. The immediate cause of death was removal from life support by Indiana...
First responders delayed after train blocks intersection in east Houston
(Source: Television station ABC 13, August 9, 2019) HOUSTON, Texas — Jose Carpio was working on his 2014 gray Ford Mustang when it fell onto his face and chest and pinned him from the waist up. His mother and girlfriend called 911, but as the ambulance arrived on June...
CSX employee falls down 40-foot ravine near 15-car derailment in Parke County, Indiana
(Source: Television station WTHI, August 8, 2019) PARKE COUNTY, Ind. — A train derailment investigation is underway in Parke County. CSX says it happened around 5:00 on Thursday afternoon. According to CSX 15 railcars containing Coke derailed near the U.S. 41 overpass...
Genesee & Wyoming’s Q2 2019 operating income falls on declining revenues
(Source: Freight Waves, August 7, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Shortline operator Genesee and Wyoming reported an 8.7 percent decline in operating income in the second quarter of 2019 amid year-over-year declines in freight revenue from its Australian and European...
Gov. Murphy defends big raises for NJ Transit executives
(Source: www.nj.com, August 8, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday defended big raises some NJ Transit executives recently received as complaints from riders on delayed buses and trains continue to pile up. Full story: www.nj.com
CN, CSX ink deal to better serve northeast U.S., Canada
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, August 8, 2019) NEW YORK — Canadian Northern (CN) and CSX will join together and serve more of the northeast starting Oct. 7. The two Class 1s announced a new intermodal service offering between CN’s greater Montreal & Southern...
AAR reports rail traffic declines in July 2019 as well as week ending August 3
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, August 7, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 3, 2019, as well as volumes for July 2019. U.S. railroads originated...
RRB Q&A: Reporting events that can affect retirement benefits
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, June 19, 2019) CHICAGO — Rights to benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act also carry responsibilities for reporting events that may affect the payment of these benefits to the employee or to members of the...
Amtrak hungers for an upscale food hall at Chicago Union Station
(Source: Chicago Sun-Times, August 6, 2019) CHICAGO — Amtrak, as part of its ongoing renovations at Union Station, is climbing aboard the food hall express. The railroad wants to add a “bespoke” food hall to the downtown station, which it owns. It is seeking operators...
BNSF investigating report of petroleum sheen on Montana river
(Source: Whitefish Pilot, August 6, 2019) WHITEFISH, Mont. — BNSF Railway Co. will be working in the Whitefish River today following a report of a petroleum sheen in the river. The company is investigating a complaint of a petroleum sheen received by the Montana...
Proposed ban on buying Chinese buses, rail cars could curtail job growth at Chicago-area factory
(Source: Chicago Tribune, August 6, 2019) CHICAGO — A proposal to bar transit agencies from using federal money to buy Chinese buses and rail cars could stunt expansion at a Far Southeast Side factory that hopes to become a supplier for rail projects around the...
OKC-to-Tulsa passenger rail service falls through
(Source: The Oklahoman, August 6, 2019) OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Hopes for passenger rail service linking the Oklahoma City and Tulsa areas suffered a major setback Monday. Stillwater Central Railroad failed to meet an Aug. 4 deadline for establishing a six-month pilot...
30 years after major diesel spill into Whitefish Lake
(Source: Flathead Beacon, August 7, 2019) WHITEFISH, Mont. — Charlie Abell has spent nearly all of his 80 years living along the shores of Whitefish Lake. From Abell’s living room, he can watch trains zip across the causeway at Mackinaw Bay, the very spot 30 years ago...
BLET News
Commemorating September 11, 2003
BLE International President Don M. Hahs issued the following statement regarding September 11.
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.
