Rail Industry News
NTSB will meet July 23 to determine cause of fatal 2018 Amtrak crash at Cayce, S.C.
(Source: Occupational Health & Safety, July 1, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Transportation Safety Board will meet July 23 to determine the probable cause of the Feb. 4, 2018, collision of an Amtrak train with a stopped CSX train near Cayce, S.C. The collision...
NJ governor signs NJ Transit worker bill, highlights agency’s progress
(Source: Progressive Railroading, June 28, 2019) New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy earlier this week signed into law a bill that would prohibit New Jersey Transit from asserting sovereign immunity to escape rail worker lawsuits under the Federal Employers' Liability Act...
Crews preparing to pump out sulfuric acid spilled during CN rail tunnel crash
(Source: Times Herald, June 29, 2019) PORT HURON, Mich. — A full day after more than 13,000 gallons of sulfuric acid spilled into the rail tunnel under the St. Clair River, crews were wrapping up efforts this morning to remove the CN Rail cars that had derailed. Full...
40 CN train cars derail inside U.S.-Canada border tunnel near Detroit
(Source: Crain’s Detroit Business, June 28, 2019) DETROIT, Mich. — A Canadian National Railway train derailed early Friday morning inside the Port Huron-to-Sarnia rail tunnel under the St. Clair River, clogging up international train traffic at the border, according...
Genesee & Wyoming being taken private in $6.37 billion deal
(Source: Associated Press, July 1, 2019) DARIEN, Conn. — Railroad operator Genesee & Wyoming is being taken private by Brookfield Infrastructure and GIC in a deal valued at about $6.37 billion. Genesee & Wyoming Inc. owns 120 short line railroads, mostly in North...
Alaska Railroad pens agreement on rail connection to Lower 48 states
(Source: Must Read Alaska, June 27, 2019) ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Alaska Railroad Corporation and the Alaska to Alberta Railway Development Corporation signed a master agreement of cooperation to build a 1,500-mile connection between the Alaska Railroad and Canadian...
Vintage rail cars offer a nostalgic view for Hoosier State Line’s final run on Sunday
(Source: Lafayette Journal & Courier, June 28, 2019) LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Among all the passenger rail fans saying their farewells to the Hoosier State – a four-day-a-week Indianapolis-to-Chicago route doomed by state budget cuts that kick in next week – who knew the...
The Alberta government is trying to get out of the oil-by-rail business
(Source: Edmonton Journal, June 27, 2019) EDMONTON — Attempting to make good on a spring election promise, the government announced Thursday morning it has engaged CIBC Capital Markets to “help oversee the divestment of the crude-by-rail program and its transition to...
Oil production limit increasing, crude by rail capacity growing
(Source: CTV News, June 27, 2019) EDMONTON — The Alberta government announced changes to the oil production limit for August Thursday. Citing the private sector increasing its crude-by-rail capacity, declining inventory levels and improved efficiencies, the production...
PSR and the shipper impact will be focus at Midwest Association of Rail Shippers meeting
(Source: American Journal of Transportation, June 27, 2019) CHICAGO — Freight rail shippers concerned about the impacts of precision scheduled railroading (PSR) will gather July 15-16 for the annual Summer Meeting of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS)....
Two men charged in shooting and attempted robbery of SEPTA regional rail conductor
(Source: Philly Voice, June 20, 2019) PHILADELPHIA — Two men have been arrested for the shooting and attempted robbery of a SEPTA conductor on a Regional Rail train in May, SEPTA police announced Thursday. Full story: Philly Voice
Flooding and transport issues behind month-long grains rally
(Source: Freight Waves, June 27, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Historically heavy rainfall in the Midwest region of the United States has contributed to surging prices of agricultural commodities in more ways than one. Breached levies and flooded fields prevented farmers...
NTSB calls on FRA to stop delaying passenger rail safety rule
(Source: Progressive Railroading, June 25, 2019) Prompted by a fatal Amtrak train derailment in 2017, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling on the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to implement a passenger-rail operations safety program...
U.S. rail volumes continue to drop
(Source: Freight Waves, June 27, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Year-to-date U.S. rail volumes fell again amid a loosening truck market, receding floodwaters in the Midwest and overall economic uncertainty. Full story: Freight Waves
AAR reports lower rail traffic for the week ending June 22, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, June 26, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending June 22, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 525,116...
Upstate New York high-speed rail project faces another delay
(Source: Albany Times Union, June 26, 2019) ALBANY, N.Y. — Efforts to boost passenger train speeds across upstate New York are facing another delay after the completion date for the project's final environmental impact study was pushed back. Full story: Albany Times...
Schneider launches intermodal service at CSX Indianapolis
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, June 26, 2019) NEW YORK — Schneider, a provider of truckload, intermodal and logistics services, this month began offering intermodal services at the CSX Indianapolis ramp. Full story: Railway Track & Structures
NS coal train derails into Great Dismal Swamp wildlife refuge
(Source: Associated Press, June 26, 2019) CHESAPEAKE — A coal train has derailed in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia, raising concerns about its wildlife and the fragile peat soil that has accumulated there over the course of centuries. Full...
Amtrak chief calls on U.S. to end “red tape” on Gateway project
(Source: Bloomberg, June 26, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak’s chief executive urged the Trump administration to provide federal funding and complete a key environmental review needed to advance the Gateway program of rail infrastructure projects in New York and New...
Rising rail rates, demurrage burden U.S. scrap firms
(Source: Argus Media, June 26, 2019) NEW YORK — Multiple scrap recycling companies operating more than 170 facilities nationwide met with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in June to request its intervention as increased fees and unreliability harm their ability...
BLET News
Pine Bluff, Ark. becomes seventh city to take action against remotes
The City of Pine Bluff, Ark. became the seventh U.S. city to take action against remote control locomotives within its jurisdiction. On Tuesday, February 18, the city council passed a resolution banning remote control locomotives within the city limits until certain safety requirements are met.
BLE mourns passing of Brother Stutes
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers is deeply saddened by the loss of one of its exemplary members, R.J. “Rodney” Stutes. Brother Stutes, 56, passed away on Saturday after suffering a massive heart attack the previous week.
BLE Member Rodney Stutes in a coma after heart attack
Long time BLE member R.J. (Rodney) Stutes suffered a massive heart attack last weekend. He is currently in a coma in guarded condition.
Ohio county calls for remote control ban
The Cuyahoga County Local Emergency Planning Committee recently adopted a resolution that calls for a moratorium on remote control trains and suggests that remotes be banned from switching operations that involve hazardous materials.
Cleveland passes ‘emergency measure’ on remote control
The City Council of Cleveland, Ohio, adopted an “emergency measure” on February 10 that encourages members of the Ohio State Legislature to pass legislation addressing security and safety concerns surrounding the use of remote control locomotives.
City of Boston bans remotes
The City of Boston has become the fifth U.S. city to take action against remote control locomotive operations. In a resolution by Councilor at-Large Stephen J. Murphy, the city demanded that railroad cease operations of remote control locomotives until safety considerations are met.
BLE members not interested in UTU
The following is the text of a letter from BLE International President Don Hahs to railroad journalist Larry Kaufman, whose column supporting renewed BLE-UTU merger talks was posted on the UTU website on February 7
Rail labor lobbies to save Amtrak
The Rail Labor Division of the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department (TTD) is initiating a grassroots effort to lobby Capitol Hill for $1.2 billion in funding for Amtrak.
Father-in-law of First Vice-President Rodzwicz passes away
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers extends its deepest sympathy to the family of First Vice-President & Alternate President Edward Rodzwicz upon the death of his father-in-law on Saturday, February 1. Theodore Gates, 85, was a resident of Kirwin Heights, Pa.
Update regarding $2,000 death benefit
BLE General Chairman John Koonce provided updated information for BLE members on the CN/IC-CC&P properties regarding the $2,000 MetLife death benefit announced in the December 2002 issue of the Locomotive Engineer Newsletter.
