Rail Industry News
NJ Transit withholds PTC project costs, citing “trade secret”
(Source: Bloomberg, August 5, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey Transit is withholding the growing cost of one of its biggest-ever capital projects, an emergency rail-braking system ordered by Congress. In 2017, the so-called positive train control system had a cost of...
BNSF releases Q2 2019 financial results
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, August 6, 2019) NEW YORK — BNSF has announced Q2 2019 financial results in early August, which included the following highlights: • Total revenues were $5.89 billion, compared to Q2 2018 revenues of $5.88 billion, essentially flat;...
BNSF ticketed for blocking intersections in 2 Oklahoma cities
(Source: Television station News 9, August 5, 2019) EDMOND, Okla. — A new law that allows local law enforcement to write tickets to trains that block intersections for too long went into effect July 1. And now, police have started writing tickets. In Edmond, the sound...
2 bodies found in train car carrying steel from Mexico to southern Iowa
(Source: Des Moines Register, August 5, 2019) DES MOINES, Iowa — Two bodies have been discovered in a railroad car that was shipping steel from Mexico to southern Iowa, authorities said. The cars, bound for Centerville, were dropped off Thursday in Albia by Burlington...
Commuter rail coalition testifies before Congress
(Source: Railway Age, August 5, 2019) NEW YORK — Commuter Rail Coalition chair and Metra CEO Jim Derwinski recently testified before the Senate Commerce Committee, where he requested a new grant program specifically for commuter railroads that are struggling to meet...
Opinion: Deciphering the Amtrak puzzle
(Source: Railway Age opinion column by Andrew Selden, August 5, 2019) NEW YORK — CEO Richard Anderson’s announced strategy to reposition Amtrak’s train operations is a puzzle. It appears incapable of working. He proposes to end most long-distance services in favor of...
GAO: Interoperability issues a concern for PTC deployment
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 5, 2019) Amtrak, commuter and freight railroads continue to make progress on positive train control (PTC) implementation, but significant work remains to achieve interoperability among the railroads' individual PTC systems,...
BNSF sees slight uptick in Q2 2019 revenue
(Source: Freight Waves, August 5, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Second-quarter revenue for BNSF, a unit of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK), rose 0.3 percent despite lower volumes for agricultural products, consumer products and industrial products, the railroad’s parent company...
OmniTRAX plan would double Port of Cleveland traffic
(Source: Crain’s Cleveland Business, August 4, 2019) CLEVELAND, Ohio — Roughly 13 million tons of cargo moves through Cleveland Harbor annually, supporting 20,000 jobs and creating $3.5 billion in economic activity. Full story: Crain’s Cleveland Business
Amtrak matches $750,000 Oregon DOT grant for Northwest rail infrastructure efforts
(Source: Transportation Today, August 5, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Building on a $750,000 grant application with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Amtrak declared last week that it would match that contribution to restoring an out-of-service siding...
Contura is winning bidder for Eagle Butte, Belle Ayr mines
(Source: Gillette News Record, August 4, 2019) GILLETTE, Wyo. — Nearly 600 Blackjewel LLC coal workers in Wyoming and West Virginia may see a monthlong forced layoff end soon after the company has agreed to sell a trio of mines to Contura Energy Inc. Full story:...
UP EVP Knight sells $1.55 million in company stock
(Source: Trent Times, August 2, 2019) NEW YORK — Union Pacific Co. EVP Robert M. Knight, Jr. sold 8,620 shares of Union Pacific stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 31. The shares were sold at an average price of $180.04, for a total value of...
Train hits washout in South Dakota; 2 crew members rescued
(Source: Associated Press, August 4, 2019) NEW UNDERWOOD, S.D. — Two crew members had to be rescued when a freight train derailed after hitting a washout in southwestern South Dakota. Pennington County authorities say the eastbound Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern...
Residents allowed to return home after CP derailment forces evacuation of Irvine, Alberta
(Source: CTV News Calgary, August 3, 2019) IRVINE, Alberta — A number of CP train cars derailed near the hamlet of Irvine on Friday afternoon and an evacuation order that was issued for a seven kilometer radius around the area has been lifted. Full story: CTV News...
Norfolk Southern lays off 20 workers from rail yard in Williamson, W.Va.
(Source: Herald-Dispatch, August 5, 2019) HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Norfolk and Southern recently furloughed 20 of its employees work worked at the rail yard in Williamson. The company laid off 10 workers at the Williamson yard as recently as 2012 and 200 positions in total...
CP Rail moves record amount of grain
(Source: Troy Media, August 2, 2019) CALGARY — Canadian Pacific Railway moved more Canadian grain and grain products during the 2018-2019 crop year than any year in its history. Full story: Troy Media
Documentary about George H.W. Bush funeral train to air on Discovery
(Source: Union Pacific press release, August 1, 2019) OMAHA, Neb. — The story of George H.W. Bush's funeral train "Uniting America: The President's Final Journey" will have its first airing Sunday, Aug. 11 at 8:30 a.m. ET/PT on Discovery. Led by Union Pacific's...
Sen. Wyden introduces bill to improve oil train safety
(Source: Press release from the office of Senator Ron Wyden, August 1, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., yesterday introduced legislation that would address safety concerns regarding the transport of oil via railways and to better prepare and...
Man killed unloading rail car in Aurora, Ill.
(Source: Aurora Beacon-News, August 1, 2019) CHICAGO — A 19-year-old man was killed when wood panels he was unloading from a rail car in Aurora Thursday morning fell on him, police said. Andy Williams, a spokesman for the railroad police, said the man who died worked...
Blackjewel bankruptcy could set off ripple effects for freight rail
(Source: Freight Waves, August 1, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The bankruptcy of private coal company Blackjewel could result in ripple effects across the freight rail industry. Blackjewel’s bankruptcy reminded the broader industrial sector of the vulnerability of U.S....
BLET News
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.
UTU represented shortline runs unmanned trains
A UTU-represented shortline is running unmanned trains in Canada, according to the September 2003 issue of Trains Magazine.
Saginaw, Mich., adopts remote control safety resolution
The city of Saginaw, Mich. recently became the 35th community to adopt a safety resolution regarding the use of remote control trains within its boundaries.
Town Hall meeting set for Kansas City
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers will conduct a Town Hall Meeting in Kansas City on September 9 regarding the proposed merger with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Michigan AFL-CIO calls for ban on remote control operations
The Michigan AFL-CIO joined the state federations of Arizona and Texas in calling for a halt of remote control train operations until enforceable federal regulations are in place.
Meany center offers hazmat workshops
The George Meany Center-National Labor College is offering two hazmat training classes in 2003-2004.
BLE to conduct IBT merger Town Hall meetings
Over the next several weeks, the office of BLE First Vice-President Ed Rodzwicz will coordinate a series of Town Hall meetings to explain the proposed BLE-IBT merger.
AFL-CIO condemns raiding by rogue unions
In a statement issued on August 6, the AFL-CIO continued its support of affiliates raided by rogue unions, such as the raid currently perpetrated by the United Transportation Union against the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers on the Canadian Pacific Railway.
34th community enacts remote control safety resolution
Knox County became the second Tennessee county to express concerns regarding remote control train operations in their community, joining Unicoi County, Tenn., in adopting a remote control safety resolution.
BLE-RCTC members ratify contract
BLE-Rail Canada Traffic Controllers ratified a contract on Tuesday with Canadian Pacific Railway, ending a seven week strike.
