Rail Industry News
Pennsylvania’s funding cuts jeopardize Amtrak service, PennDOT official says
(Source: Tribune-Review, June 13, 2019) PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The state’s Amtrak passenger rail service will be impacted when the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s $450 million annual payment to PennDOT plunges by $400 million three years from now, a PennDOT official warned...
Appeals court: Union Pacific owed “no duty of care” to contractor, despite injuries in rail yard
(Source: Cook County Record, June 13, 2019) CHICAGO — An Illinois state appeals court says the employee of a contractor can't sue Union Pacific Railroad for injuries he suffered on a Union Pacific job site. Full story: Cook County Record
Alberta government in talks with oil producers about offloading crude-by-rail contracts
(Source: Reuters, June 11, 2019) CALGARY, Alberta — The provincial government has started talks with the private sector about Canadian oil producers taking over contracts signed by the previous NDP government, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said on Tuesday. The talks...
Disputed rail project seeking to ship eastern Utah oil to more lucrative markets clears hurdle with $21 million funding boost
(Source: Salt Lake Tribune, June 13, 2019) VERNAL, Utah — A controversial rail proposal, which would connect the Uinta Basin’s waxy crude with Gulf Coast refiners, cleared a crucial milestone Thursday by securing a $21.4 million grant from a Utah panel that doles out...
NJ Transit train delays still a problem after the governor’s pledge to fix them
(Source: Bloomberg, June 13, 2019) TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Transit commuter trains have hit their worst on-time and reliability records in the 18 months since Governor Phil Murphy promised to overhaul the nation’s second-biggest commuter railroad. Full story:...
FRA doles out more than $326 million in grants
(Source: Railway Age, June 13, 2019) NEW YORK — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently announced that 45 projects in 29 states will benefit from $326-plus million in grant money under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI)...
Regulators clearing the tracks for rail shipments of LNG
(Source: Freight Waves, June 14, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — A relative newcomer to the U.S. energy scene has received a preliminary nod from regulators to use an as-yet untapped transportation resource – rail tank cars – to move liquefied natural gas (LNG). When not...
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending June 8, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, June 12, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending June 8, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 513,099...
Amtrak Heartland Flyer celebrates 20 years on track in Oklahoma and Texas
(Source: Tahlequah Daily Press, June 12, 2019) TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — In 1999, passenger rail made a return to the Sooner State as the Amtrak Heartland Flyer hit the rails between Oklahoma and Texas. Now the train is readying for its 20th anniversary on June 14 with...
Amtrak’s Empire Builder route turns 90
(Source: Progressive Railroading, June 12, 2019) Amtrak yesterday marked the 90th anniversary of the Empire Builder route, which travels across the northern United States from Chicago to Seattle and Portland. Full story: Progressive Railroading
Hoosier State train is going away on July 1, and here’s what it means for Indianapolis
(Source: Indianapolis Star, June 13, 2019) INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — After nearly 30 years of service, the Hoosier State train will make its last run June 30. Full story: Indianapolis Star
Amtrak partially restores trips between St. Louis and Kansas City
(Source: Missourian, June 12, 2019) COLUMBIA, Mo. — Amtrak announced Wednesday it is restoring one of the two daily Missouri River Runner round trips between St. Louis and Kansas City starting Thursday. Full story: Missourian
Rail advocates say new Gulf Coast Amtrak service would be an improvement over Sunset Limited
(Source: www.al.com, June 11, 2019) BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — When the transcontinental Sunset Limited last operated three-days-a-week voyages along the Gulf Coast 14 years ago, on-time performances and ridership numbers were both poor and stops into Mobile were often made...
How Acela cars are made: Inside the Alstom facility
(Source: Railway Age, June 12, 2019) NEW YORK — Alstom Transportation is building the next generation of high-speed trainsets for Amtrak‘s Northeast Corridor Acela Express service. The new equipment is scheduled to enter service sometime in 2021 between Washington,...
Despite years of mudslinging and attacks, Californians still want their bullet train
(Source: Streetsblog San Francisco, June 12, 2019) SAN FRANCISCO — The Los Angeles Times attacks California’s High-speed Rail project incessantly. The train builders have had problems acquiring land and are now caught in a game of political chess with President Trump....
Class I railroads: How did things get so bad?
(Source: Forbes, June 12, 2019) NEW YORK — On May 22nd and May 23rd, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) held an Oversight Hearing on Demurrage and Accessorial Charges. Railroad customers objected to escalating fines across the country's seven Class I carriers and...
UE 506, 618 members ratify first four-year contract with Wabtec
(Source: United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) press release, June 12, 2019) ERIE, Pa. — The members of UE Locals 506 and 618 ratified the first four-year contract agreement with their new employer, Wabtec. The ratification comes on the back of...
White House pulls rule that would require two-member crew in locomotives
(Source: Washington Post, June 13, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The White House has pulled an Obama era proposal that would have mandated two crew members in most locomotives, and it has banned states from requiring railroads to do so. Full story: Washington Post
NTSB confirms worker killed in accident involving remote control locomotive
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, June 11, 2019) NEW YORK — A remote-controlled locomotive struck and killed a CSX railroad employee back on April 13, and the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed it almost two months later. Allen Lowe, who had worked for...
NY, NJ try to get Hudson rail tunnel going by boosting key agency’s role
(Source: NJ Spotlight, June 10, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — A new push is underway in both the New Jersey and New York legislatures to expand the role of a key agency that is helping coordinate efforts to build the proposed Gateway rail tunnel under the Hudson River. Full...
BLET News
Ky. Operation RedBlock holds holiday raffle
The Operation RedBlock team in Hazard, Ky., is currently conducting a “Great Holiday Model Train Raffle” to support upcoming RedBlock events in Eastern Kentucky.
BLE backs contract van legislation; issues safety tips
Following last week’s fatal contract van collision in New Jersey, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers is calling for stricter regulations governing the off-duty transportation of railroad workers.
BLE encouraged after IBT subcommittee meetings
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers concluded an encouraging first round of merger meetings this week with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Meany Center revises hazmat training schedule
The George Meany Center for Labor Studies has issued a revised list of dates for its 2002 and 2003 hazmat training courses.
BLE member injured in off-duty wreck
A BLE member was injured and a conductor was killed early this morning when the contract van they were riding in was involved in an accident.
Get out the vote
The following is a message from BLE International President Don M. Hahs regarding Tuesday’s elections.
Vice President Cassidy retires; Wingo elevated to Advisory Board
Joe Cassidy, one of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers’ most veteran and well-respected Vice Presidents, formally announced his retirement today. Paul L. Wingo Jr. is now an International Vice President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
Meany Center offers hazmat training
The George Meany Center-National Labor College will conduct four hazardous waste/chemical emergency response training programs next year on its campus in Silver Spring, Md. In addition, the Meany Center will also offer five online hazmat awareness training programs in 2002 and 2003.
Hahs calls for emergency anti-terror meeting with carriers, government
In light of the recent warnings by the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding possible terrorist attacks on America’s railroads, BLE International President Don Hahs today issued an open letter to the nation’s labor organizations, rail carriers, the Federal Railroad Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board asking for an immediate anti-terror summit to address these threats.
BLE-IBT subcommittees begin talks
Joint subcommittees of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters began meetings this week to explore the possibility of a merger or affiliation of the two organizations.
