Rail Industry News
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...
New rail car plant to bring 263 jobs to Butler County, Iowa
(Source: The Courier, June 20, 2019) WATERLOO, Iowa — Butler County is eager to welcome a new rail car maintenance service rolling into town this summer. In tow will be more than 250 jobs and a planned capital investment of $60 million into the community. The rail car...
Power restored at NY Penn Station after outage temporarily halted all trains
(Source: CNBC, June 19, 2019) NEW YORK — Transit authorities have restored power to the New Jersey rail system, allowing travel in and out of New York’s Penn Station following trouble with Amtrak’s overhead wires that halted all service Wednesday morning, according to...
Genesee & Wyoming reports 9.9% decline in May traffic
(Source: Zacks.com, June 19, 2019) NEW YORK — Genesee & Wyoming reported disappointing traffic figures for May. Traffic in the month was 264,098 carloads, reflecting a 9.9% decrease year over year. Traffic at the company's North American operations declined 8.1% from...
BLET News
Former President Delaney recovering
Former BLE International President Robert E. Delaney is at home recovering from a heart attack suffered on December 20.
NS hiring conductors in Ohio
The Norfolk Southern Corp. is currently holding recruiting events for the position of railroad freight train conductor in Northern Ohio.
Holiday message
I would like to take this opportunity to briefly express my thanks and appreciation for the kindness and support during my first year in office.
Marysville, Mich. passes remote control safety resolution
The City Council of Marysville, Mich., unanimously adopted a resolution calling for improved federal safety regulations to govern the operation of remote control locomotives.
IBT/BLE wins IC&E representation election
The joint International Brotherhood of Teamsters/Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Rail Operating Employees’ Council today scored its first-ever organizing victory on the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad (IC&E).
Shreveport bans remote control locomotives
The city of Shreveport, La., became the third city in the United States to adopt legislation banning the use of remote control locomotives after a resolution passed by its City Council became effective on November 26.
Early retirement plan increases lifetime maximum
Effective January 1, 2003, the lifetime maximum under GA-46000 will inrease from $79,000 to $84,100.
Russian trade unionists visit BLE
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers’ headquarters in Cleveland will receive a delegation of trade unionists from Russia on December 12.
BLE, Teamsters seek to organize IC&E
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters are pooling their organizing power in an effort to bring union representation to more than 250 workers employed by the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad (IC&E).
Remote control arbitration concludes
The two-day arbitration hearing regarding the carriers’ assignment of remote control operations to non-engineers ended yesterday in Chicago with each party offering rebuttals.
