Rail Industry News
CP expects to ship record amount of grain this year
(Source: The Western Producer, June 20, 2019) SASKATOON, Sask. — Canadian Pacific Railway expects to set a new record in 2018-19 for volumes of Canadian grain moved in a single crop year. Full story: The Western Producer
Weak intermodal hurt CN’s traffic levels
(Source: Market Realist, June 24, 2019) NEW YORK — Weak intermodal volumes hurt Canadian National Railway’s overall rail traffic in Week 24. The company’s intermodal volume fell 1.2% YoY to 50,878 units from 51,486 units in Week 24 of 2018. Among the seven Class I...
11,000 U.S. airline catering workers authorize a strike at airports nationwide
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, June 24, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Workers who prepare, pack and deliver food and beverages served aboard flights for American, Delta, United and other airlines have voted overwhelmingly in favor of...
U.S. Class I railroads employed fewer workers in May
(Source: Progressive Railroading, May 21, 2019) U.S. Class Is employed 142,950 workers as of mid-May, down 0.88 percent from mid-April and down 2.76 percent compared with May 2018, according to Surface Transportation Board data. Categories that logged decreases since...
NTSB publishes final report on Amtrak derailment in DuPont, Wash.
(Source: National Transportation Safety Board press release, June 24, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Transportation Safety Board published its final report Monday for the agency’s investigation of the Dec. 18, 2017, fatal, Amtrak train derailment in DuPont,...
NTSB blasts complacency before Amtrak’s fatal 2017 DuPont crash
(Source: Associated Press, June 24, 2019) SEATTLE — The National Transportation Safety Board has published its final report Monday on a deadly Amtrak derailment in Washington state in 2017, with the agency’s vice chairman blasting what he described as a “Titanic-like...
Slug shorts out huge section of Japan’s high-speed railway
(Source: New York Post, June 23, 2019) NEW YORK — A large chunk of Japan’s high-speed rail network was brought to a standstill, delaying about 12,000 passengers, because of a slimy character – a roughly 1-inch-long slug, according to reports. The gastropod slithered...
Volunteers say thank you to Hoosier State train crews with makeover of Amtrak garden
(Source: Journal Review, June 24, 2019) CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. — Helen Hudson greeted the Hoosier State train Sunday morning, holding a sign saying thank you to those who operate the service that makes stops in Crawfordsville. The sign — which reads “Crawfordsville says...
BNSF fire train assists firefighters in Washington state
(Source: Wildfire Today, June 23, 2019) FINELY, Wash. — On Thursday a fire train that probably carried nearly 30,000 gallons of water assisted firefighters battling a wildfire along railroad tracks south of Finely, Washington. Full story: Wildfire Today
CSX EVP Goldman sells $556,500 in company stock
(Source: Mayfield Recorder, June 21, 2019) NEW YORK — CSX Co. EVP Nathan D. Goldman sold 7,000 shares of CSX stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 11. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.50, for a total value of $556,500.00. Following the completion of...
KCS to release Q2 2019 earnings on July 19
(Source: Kansas City Southern press release, June 21, 2019) KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern (KCS) will release its second quarter 2019 financial results on Friday, July 19, 2019, before the opening of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. KCS will also hold...
North Dakota man arrested for allegedly firing shots at BNSF train
(Source: NewsDakota.com, June 24, 2019) JAMESTOWN, N.D. — A 73-year-old Jamestown man faces terrorizing charges after authorities say he fired shots at a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train on Friday. Full story: www.newsdakota.com
Opinion: U.S. freight customers increasingly taxed by higher rail rates
(Source: The Regulatory Review opinion column by Martha Moore, June 24, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — At a recent Congressional hearing, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) declared that rail rates after adjustment for inflation are 46 percent lower now than in...
Union leaders criticize precision scheduled railroading
(Source: Freight Waves, June 21, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The implementation of precision scheduled railroading (PSR) has contributed to dwindling morale and could result in creating unsafe working conditions should the federal government withhold intervention,...
NJ Transit moving forward with natural gas power plant
(Source: Hudson Reporter, June 20, 2019) TRENTON, N.J. — NJ Transit is rolling out a resilience program which aims to provide reliable power to portions of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, NJ Transit’s Morris and Essex Line, and the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail. The program...
Port Authority announces plan to increase PATH capacity, reduce delays
(Source: Television station WABC 7, June 20, 2019) NEW YORK — The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Thursday unveiled its "PATH Improvement Plan," which the agency says will dramatically increase capacity while also reducing delays. Full story:...
California, Amtrak end joint high-speed train bid
(Source: Associated Press, June 21, 2019) SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Amtrak and the California High-Speed Rail Authority said Friday that they canceled a joint agreement seeking companies to build high-speed trains for them, a proposal billed as a way to save money and lure...
Despite industry opposition, Ohio House eyes mandate on size of railroad crews
(Source: The Cleveland American, June 20, 2019) COLUMBUS, Okla. — Railroads in Ohio would have to operate trains with at least two crew members under a bill state lawmakers are considering. The move comes after the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) indicated it...
House committee leader says railroads have fallen to “jackals on Wall Street”
(Source: Washington Post, June 20, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — House Transportation Committee Chairman Peter A. DeFazio said Thursday that the nation’s railway system had fallen into the hands of “the jackals on Wall Street” and he accused federal regulators of colluding...
AAR reports rail traffic decline for week ending June 15, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, June 19, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending June 15, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 527,989...
BLET News
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.
Arbitrator saddles TCU with increased health care costs
The Transportation Communications International Union announced on January 24 that arbitrator Robert Harris had issued a final decision in the union’s arbitration case covering pay and health and welfare issues for the Clerical and Carmen national agreements.
2003 BLE Scholarship Directory available
The children of active, retired and deceased BLE members are eligible for various scholarship opportunities in 2003.
