Rail Industry News
New book details danger of moving oil by rail
(Source: DeSmog Blog story by Justin Mikulka, July 9, 2019) NEW YORK — As the risk of these oil trains became very apparent, I began investigating how the trains could be allowed to travel through communities like mine in Albany and started publishing my findings here...
Virgin Trains USA expanding service in Florida, California and Nevada
(Source: Freight Waves, July 8, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Virgin Trains USA, the only privately owned railroad in the United States, received approval to expand in Florida. It held a groundbreaking ceremony at Orlando International Airport on June 24th to celebrate...
Union Pacific’s new reservation system set to kick in with fines
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, July 8, 2019) NEW YORK — You have 24 hours. That’s it. With precision scheduled railroading now in the driver’s seat, Union Pacific is cracking down on customers who take longer than 24 hours to remove containers at its terminals....
CN train derailed on Canada’s side of international tunnel, TSB says
(Source: Progressive Railroading, July 8, 2019) The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) will conduct the accident investigation into the June 28 CN train derailment that occurred in the St. Clair Tunnel between Sarnia, Ontario, and Port Huron, Michigan, the...
Teamsters stand in solidarity with California UFCW workers
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, July 8, 2019) LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Teamsters Joint Council 42 in Los Angeles, Calif. voted unanimously to sanction a possible strike that could impact more than 60,000 grocery workers in Central and...
Forest products and scrap recycling rail shippers seek oversight
(Source: Freight Waves, July 5, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The service problems associated with precision scheduled railroading (PSR) have motivated forest products and scrap recycling shippers to press the Surface Transportation Board to renew a longstanding request...
GAO: Longer freight trains create delays, safety concerns
(Source: Washington Times, July 8, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. freight trains have been growing up to three miles long, creating lengthy delays at railroad crossings for emergency responders and raising concerns about potential derailments, according to federal...
SEPTA worker dies after falling onto tracks, getting hit by train
(Source: NBC Philadelphia, July 8, 2019) PHILADELPHIA — A SEPTA worker was struck and killed by a train during the Monday afternoon commute. Darren Monroe, 54, was working on the tracks near SEPTA's Erie Station on Monday when he fell backwards and was struck by an...
Union Pacific’s Big Boy steam locomotive to tour Nebraska this week
(Source: Omaha World-Herald, July 8, 2019) OMAHA, Neb. — The biggest steam railroad engine in the world will be rolling through Nebraska this week for the first time since it underwent more than two years of restoration. Full story: Omaha World-Herald
Fact-finding session planned in Mobile for coastal Amtrak return
(Source: www.al.com, July 6, 2019) MOBILE, Ala. — A one-way ticket price for riding on a state-supported Amtrak train similar to the one proposed for the Gulf Coast, can run from $25 to $45. Those estimates were provided by the Rail Passengers Association to the...
Boosters of second Twin Cities-Chicago train undeterred despite budget snub
(Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune, July 7, 2019) MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Rail advocates remain optimistic that a second daily Amtrak train could be added between the Twin Cities and Chicago, even though the legislature didn’t fund a $4 million request to help pay for the...
MBTA whistleblower claims he was fired for raising safety concerns
(Source: Boston 25 News, July 8, 2019) BOSTON — A former top MBTA safety official says in a whistleblower complaint that he was fired by the T as he investigated numerous safety violations and was even urged to alter a report about a runaway train, according to a...
NS crews clear Horseshoe Curve derailment
(Source: Altoona Mirror, July 7, 2019) ALTOONA, Pa. — Crews worked Saturday to cleanup a derailment near the Horseshoe Curve. There were no injuries in Friday’s derailment of 11 cars at 8:40 p.m. and, on Saturday, Norfolk Southern crews continued the task of clearing...
CN crews removing final rail car from Port Huron-Sarnia tunnel
(Source: Times Herald, July 5, 2019) PORT HURON, Mich. — CN rail crews are reportedly removing the last train car derailed a week ago in the international tunnel between Port Huron and Canada. Roughly 40 rail cars derailed in the early morning hours of Friday, June...
AAR reports rail traffic for June and the week ending June 29, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, July 3, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending June 29, 2019, as well as volumes for June 2019. U.S. railroads originated...
Opinion: Why we must never forget the Lac-Megantic rail disaster
(Source: Ottawa Citizen opinion column by Bruce Campbell, July 4, 2019) OTTAWA — Six years ago, on July 6, 2013, at 1:14 a.m., a runaway train loaded with volatile oil derailed in the center of the small Québec town of Lac-Mégantic, its disgorged contents erupting in...
Lac-Megantic marks sixth anniversary of rail disaster that claimed 47 lives
(Source: Canadian Press, July 7, 2019) LAC-MEGANTIC — The sixth anniversary of the rail disaster in Lac-Megantic, Que., will be marked this weekend with events aimed at remembering those who were lost and recognizing how the community has grown since the tragedy....
Amtrak repairs to modify Friday’s Keystone Service schedule
(Source: Penn Live, July 4, 2019) HARRISBURG, Pa. — Amtrak Keystone Service trains will operate on a modified schedule Friday as work continues largely to fix the overhead power system that was damaged by a round of storms Tuesday night. Full story:...
California High-Speed Rail Authority publishes northern route preferences
(Source: Railway Gazette, July 3, 2019) SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California High-Speed Rail Authority has published its recommended alignments for two sections of the planned line in northern California. Public feedback will now be sought before the board makes a decision...
NS to release Q2 2019 earnings on July 24
(Source: Norfolk Southern press release, July 3, 2019) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corporation will announce its second-quarter financial results during a conference call and live internet webcast at 8:45 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 24, 2019. Quarterly earnings...
BLET News
BLE training class approved for college credits
The BLE’s Secretary-Treasurer Training class was recently accredited for two college credits at the George Meany Center-National Labor College (GMC-NLC).
Another Ohio city takes action against remotes
The City of Maple Heights, Ohio is the 12th U.S. city to take action against remote control locomotives. The city of Maple Heights is an eastern suburb of Cleveland.
Tennessee county opposes remotes
The Unicoi County Commission in Tennessee unanimously passed a resolution on March 24 against the use of remote control locomotives, becoming the fourth county to do so in the United States.
Teamsters merger survey results coming in April
The results of written and telephone surveys that reveal the BLE membership’s opinions regarding a proposed merger with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters will be announced in April.
BLE honors retiring employee
BLE International President Don M. Hahs and the officers and staff of the International Division honored staff member Linda Thomson, who is retiring today after 30 years of service to the Brotherhood.
BLE gets landmark FELA victory at Supreme Court
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers played a key role in protecting the Federal Employers Liability Act -– and the rights of all railroad workers — in a landmark Supreme Court decision issued on March 10.
Be vigilant, be alert
As the United States moves ahead with the war in Iraq, the BLE is asking its members to do their part in the war effort by remaining safe, vigilant and alert behind the throttle.
Editorial: Safety hypocrites?
That other organization today proclaimed that the BLE’s protest of remote control operations was wrong headed and somehow the Rail Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) was the proper forum for developing regulations for remote control operations (RCO).
President Hahs statement of support for troops
BLE International President Don M. Hahs today issued the following statement concerning the war in Iraq:
Second Ohio County bans remotes
Huron County, Ohio, has banned remote control locomotives, the second Ohio County to do so in as many months.
