Rail Industry News
Once touted as an economic boon, W.Va. intermodal facility faces auction block
(Source: The Charleston Gazette, July 3, 2019) CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Once touted as a key economic development tool for southwestern and central West Virginia, the $32 million Heartland Intermodal Gateway is likely to shut down this fall, and go on the auction block...
Texas school bus driver in fatal crash with train pleads not guilty
(Source: East Texas Matters, July 3, 2019) ATHENS, Texas — The driver involved in January’s fatal Athens ISD bus crash plead not guilty on Wednesday morning during his arraignment, according to his defense attorney Brian Schmidt. John Stevens, 78, has been indicted on...
BNSF rail service to closed mines in Wyoming is uncertain
(Source: Wyoming radio station 1020 AM, July 3, 2019) CASPER, Wyo. — BNSF Railway, which has hauled coal from the Belle Ayr and Eagle Butte mines in Campbell County, is aware that their owner Blackjewel LLC, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy business reorganization,...
Houston-area port, UP complete first phase of major rail project
(Source: Progressive Railroading, July 3, 2019) Representatives from Port Freeport, Union Pacific Railroad and other organizations held a ribbon cutting ceremony June 28 to mark the first-phase completion of the $21 million Parcel 14 Rail Development project at the...
Feds seeking input on stopped, slow-moving trains
(Source: The Herald, July 3, 2019) JASPER, Ind. — The Federal Railroad Administration issued a Federal Register notice on June 14, asking the public for information regarding the frequency, location and impact of blocked railroad crossings by slow-moving or idling...
Most derailed cars removed from tunnel, CN Rail says
(Source: Sarnia Observer, July 4, 2019) SARNIA, Ontario — All but nine train cars have now been removed from the international tunnel between the U.S. and Canada six days after a 47-car train derailed en route from Sarnia to Port Huron, Mich. Full story: Sarnia...
Former BLE International President Dubroski becomes two-time Jefferson Award winner
(Source: www.nj.com, July 3, 2019) CLARK, N.J. — In May, the State of New Jersey held the Jefferson Awards Ceremony for Public Service at the Trenton War Memorial. Clark resident Ed Dubroski was the proud recipient of New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Award for...
LNG “freedom molecules” coming soon to railroad tracks around the country
(Source: Florida Bulldog, July 2, 2019) FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — President Donald Trump plans to open up the transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) around the United States in railroad tanks that can hold 30,680 gallons of the extremely flammable fuel, with as...
Amtrak launches new Green Bay-Milwaukee bus service
(Source: Wisconsin Public Radio, July 2, 2019) MILWAUKEE, Wisc. — Amtrak began two new daily, round-trip buses between Green Bay and Milwaukee Monday. Amtrak will make stops in Appleton, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac. The service runs along the Interstate 41 corridor and...
St. Petersburg sues CSX over railroad right of way
(Source: St. Pete Catalyst, July 2, 2019) ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The City of St. Petersburg has gone to court against CSX Transportation Inc., challenging the company’s decision to sell part of the railroad right-of-way downtown. The city wants to convert the property...
Amtrak modifies Keystone Service after damage from storms
(Source: Penn Live, July 2, 2019) HARRISBURG, Pa. — Amtrak will provide Keystone Service on a modified basis between Philadelphia and New York City this (Wednesday) morning, July 3, following cancelations and significant delays caused by severe storms Tuesday evening...
West Virginia looks to privatize intermodal facility
(Source: Huntington Herald-Dispatch, July 2, 2019) CHARLESTON, W.Va. — After several years of losing money, the state-owned Heartland Intermodal Gateway (HIG) facility in Prichard appears headed toward privatization. Full story: Huntington Herald-Dispatch
Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station gets William H. Gray III name
(Source: Philadelphia Tribune, July 1, 2019) PHILADELPHIA — The long-anticipated renaming of a major transit hub in Philadelphia to William H. Gray III 30th Street Station will become a reality very soon, after Amtrak and the William H. Gray III Memorial Foundation...
Sen. Tester questions Amtrak officials on funding
(Source: Transportation Today, July 2, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) recently questioned Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson and other officials on the railroad’s failure to connect rural areas to the rest of the country. Full story: Transportation...
Indiana port processed gargantuan gantry cranes for CSX terminal
(Source: Progressive Railroading, July 2, 2019) The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor recently handled two large rubber-tire gantry (RTG) cranes that were destined for CSX's Chicago-area intermodal terminal in Bedford Park, Illinois. Full story: Progressive Railroading
CN re-routing freight trains through July 6 while clean up continues at Sarnia-Port Huron tunnel derailment site
(Source: CBC News, July 2, 2019) TORONTO — Via Rail is working with Canadian National (CN) to re-route six freight trains per day through Via's Chatham subdivision — which includes service through Tecumseh and Windsor — until July 6. The route changes come in the wake...
Oklahoma to fine freight railroads for blocking rail crossings
(Source: Freight Waves, July 2, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Blocking railroad crossings in Oklahoma now could come at a financial cost for freight railroads. Oklahoma has enacted a statute that allows the state to fine a stalled freight train up to $1,000 for blocking...
CN anticipates record grain shipments; CP says it’s also moving more grain
(Source: Canadian Press, July 3, 2019) WINNIPEG — Canadian National Railway says it is on track to move record quantities of western Canadian grain after a strong June, and Canadian Pacific Railway says it's moved more grain this year as well. Full story:...
Flooding closures dampen Amtrak revenue
(Source: Jefferson City News Tribune, July 2, 2019) JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — So far this year, the Amtrak Missouri River Runner passenger trains have not been able to operate for 42 days due to flooding conditions along their route through the middle of the state. Not...
Police conduct emergency drills at NY state rail stations
(Source: Associated Press, July 3, 2019) ALBANY, N.Y. — Police are planning safety exercises at New York state rail stations. State security officials say the multi-agency emergency preparedness exercises will begin Wednesday at 2 p.m. State and local police will work...
BLET News
TTD urges FRA on RCL rulemaking
In a letter to Federal Railroad Administrator Allan Rutter on behalf of the 35 affiliates of the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department, Edward Wytkind urged the FRA to “favorably act on a rulemaking submitted by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers on the use of remote control locomotives.”
Editorial: It’s about safety
This is in response to Clayton Boyce’s editorial titled “Big Lie,” which was dated March 17 on the Traffic World website but posted on the United Transportation Union’s website on March 14.
Woodbridge, N.J., bans remote control
On March 4, the Township of Woodbridge, N.J. became the 11th U.S. city to take action against remote control locomotives. The Township adopted a resolution citing safety risks associated with remote control locomotives and demanded the risks be eliminated before the technology is implemented in Woodbridge.
Bakersfield, Calif., passes remote control resolution
Bakersfield, Calif., became the 10th American city to pass a resolution calling for improved safety of remote control locomotives.
Senator Kennedy ‘deeply concerned’ about remote control safety
U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy said he is “deeply concerned about the growing threat to worker and public safety from the use of remote control technology” in a March 11 letter to Allan Rutter, Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration.
More than 300 attend BLE-IBT remote control rally
Carrying picket signs and chanting “remote control has got to go,” more than 300 union members rallied in Washington D.C. yesterday to protest lax federal oversight of remote controlled locomotives.
IBT/BLE rally in front of FRA on remote control
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers joined forces with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters against the use of remote control locomotives today. The BLE/IBT held a rally in front of the Federal Railroad Administration building in Washington, D.C. to draw attention to the dangers of remote control locomotives.
Response to UTU article:
In your editorial regarding the January 10 remote control arbitration ruling issued by Gil Vernon, written for Rail Business and reproduced on the UTU website on February 7, you wrote: “Don’t be surprised if the decision leads to renewed merger talks between the (BLE and UTU).”
Engineers rally for remote control safety
Locomotive Engineers throughout the United States and Canada will converge on Washington, D.C. on March 11 to draw attention to potential disasters in waiting — unmanned locomotives.
Beardstown, Ill., bans remote control
Beardstown, Ill. is the ninth U.S. city to take action against remote control trains.
