Rail Industry News
Tariff on Mexico could cripple some railroad companies
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, June 3, 2019) NEW YORK — Kansas City Southern is keeping a close eye on what happens with Mexico regarding tariffs. The railroad company has an operating line in Mexico and serves 90 percent of the auto assembly plants in the...
RailUSA acquires CSX’s 430-mile Florida panhandle line
(Source: RailUSA press release, June 3, 2019) BOCA RATON, Fla. — RailUSA, LLC, an independent freight railroad and rail services holding company, announced today its acquisition of a 430-mile rail line and related real estate from CSX Corporation (CSX). The line, now...
Supreme Court declines AAR request on Amtrak performance standards
(Source: Trains Magazine, June 3, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court has declined a request from the Association of American Railroads to review a lower-court ruling regarding the authority of Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration to establish...
Twin Ports to Twin Cities rail regroups, aims at 2020
(Source: Duluth News Tribune, June 1, 2019) DULUTH, Minn. — Breakthrough funding for the proposed $550-million passenger rail line between the Twin Ports and Minneapolis will have to wait for at least another year after the Minnesota Legislature last week failed to...
U.S. Rep. DeLauro visits North Haven picket line, supports striking XPO workers
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, May 30, 2019) NORTH HAVEN, Conn. — U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-CT, visited with workers who are on strike against XPO Logistics at a warehouse in North Haven, telling them she supports their fight against...
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announces $20 million expansion at Port of Greater Baton Rouge
(Source: The West Side Journal, May 31, 2019) BATON ROUGE, La. — Gov. John Bel Edwards, joined by Port of Greater Baton Rouge and Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) officials, committed State of Louisiana capital outlay funds to complete a $20 million rail project that will...
NS Chairman Squires sells $619,043 in company stock
(Source: Mayfield Recorder, June 1, 2019) NEW YORK — Norfolk Southern Corp. Chairman James A. Squires sold 3,024 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on May 21. The shares were sold at an average price of $204.71, for a total transaction of...
BNSF, UP claim they followed instructions for causeways
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, May 31, 2019) NEW YORK — The construction of causeways has created a cause for concern in Case County, Neb. Actually, residents and local business owners are more than concerned, they are angry. Full story: Railway Track &...
No legal recourse for UP layoffs, Palestine mayor says
(Source: Palestine Herald-Press, May 31, 2019) PALESTINE, Texas — Mayor Steve Presley said Thursday the city has no legal recourse to reverse the layoffs by Union Pacific of 30 Palestine workers in late April. Full story: Palestine Herald-Press
Amtrak temporarily suspended between Missouri and Texas
(Source: Associated Press, May 31, 2019) ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Amtrak says flooding is forcing it to suspend service between St. Louis and Fort Worth, Texas, until June 7. Amtrak officials said in a news release Friday that flooding has diverted freight train traffic onto...
Sound Transit board member holds agency to blame for DuPont derailment
(Source: Radio station KIRO, May 31, 2019) SEATTLE, Wash. — Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier may sit on the Sound Transit Board of Directors, but that doesn’t stop him from looking at his own agency through a critical lens — especially in the wake of a federal...
Port of Savannah invests $3 billion to improve rail connections to St. Louis
(Source: Trucking Info, May 31, 2019) SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Port of Savannah and St. Louis Regional Freightway have partnered on a significant investment plan that creates a new rail connection between the St. Louis, Missouri, region and the Georgia sea port to help...
U.S. railroads caught in the middle of new tariff threat
(Source: Freight Waves, May 31, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The railroad industry is “concerned” about a possible disruption of the North American supply chain should the U.S. impose tariffs on imports from Mexico. Full story: Freight Waves
BNSF, UP blamed for flood threat after building roads into Platte River; railroads cite rare fish protections
(Source: Omaha World-Herald, May 30, 2019) OMAHA, Neb. — Railroad repairs of flood-damaged bridges over the Platte River are being blamed by some residents of a nearby private development for causing new flooding in their Hanson’s Lakes neighborhood. Full story: Omaha...
XPO Logistics workers strike in Connecticut while employees around the globe protest company’s abusive practices
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, May 30, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Workers at a XPO Logistics warehouse in North Haven, Connecticut, walked off the job early Thursday over the logistics giant’s unfair labor practices. The workers are...
Sen. Blumenthal demands Amtrak to reinstate veteran discount
(Source: Television station WTNH, May 31, 2019) NEW HAVEN, Conn. — U.S. Senator Blumenthal is calling for Amtrak to reinstate its veteran discount program on Friday. The company used to give a 15 percent discount on tickets to veterans and their families for more than...
CREATE WA4 project completed in Chicago
(Source: Railway Age, May 30, 2019) NEW YORK — BNSF Railway and the Chicago CREATE partners have completed BNSF Connection project (WA4), which established a new direct connection between BNSF’s Corwith and Cicero Yards, as well as between the CN Freeport Subdivision...
Grain shippers association calls on STB to create guidance on rail demurrage, accessorial charges
(Source: World-Grain.com, May 30, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA), on behalf of the North American Millers’ Association and others, urged the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to develop policy principals or guidance to...
PTC interoperability still far from a reality
(Source: Freight Waves, May 30, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Only 17 percent of the relationships between the U.S. passenger and freight railroads required to utilize positive train control (PTC) technology have interoperability, meaning that the host railroad can...
Trump administration’s latest rail safety rollback sets up industry to make its own rules
(Source: DeSmog Blog, May 30, 2019) NEW YORK — This week, the Trump administration’s Department of Transportation (DOT) withdrew another rail safety recommendation originally proposed during the Obama administration. In the process, the agency made quite clear that it...
BLET News
New fatigue countermeasures established in Canada
In a major step to eliminate fatigue-related accidents in the railway industry, the Canadian government has approved new work/rest guidelines for rail operating employees.
Hahs statement on Canada Day and Independence Day
Next week, all BLE members in the U.S. and Canada will take a day to celebrate the freedom that citizens of both nations enjoy. On July 1, Canadians will celebrate Canada Day, and on July 4, the U.S. will celebrate Independence Day. I would like to take this opportunity to wish every one a safe and happy holiday. But we must not forget the importance of what each of these holidays celebrate.
Hahs working to save Amtrak
BLE International President Don M. Hahs is working steadily to secure funding for Amtrak that will keep the national passenger railroad on track now and in the future.
EUMA deadline approaching
With the registration deadline just over two weeks away, BLE members planning to attend the 64th annual Eastern Union Meeting Association are urged to make their hotel reservations quickly.
President Hahs issues call for voter registration drives
In a letter to secretary-treasurers and legislative representatives of all BLE divisions in the United States, International President Don M. Hahs asked divisions to conduct voter registration drives this summer to increase voter turnout in the November congressional elections.
FRA to increase efficiency testing
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers has been informed by the Federal Railroad Administration that, due to the recent increase in accidents, efficiency testing by the FRA will significantly increase immediately.
Procedures set for remote control arbitration
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers today announced it has negotiated a set of procedures to be followed in upcoming arbitration hearings, which will determine whether Locomotive Engineers or trainmen have the right to operate remote control technology.
Greene fund resumes lending
The Franklin P. Greene Fund, which suspended lending in 2001, is now accepting loan applications from college-bound sons of BLE members.
Transportation Labor statement on Amtrak
Edward Wytkind, Executive Director of the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department, issued the following statement today following a private meeting between rail labor and Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta regarding the future of Amtrak (BLE International President Don M. Hahs, First Vice-President Ed Rodzwicz, and Vice-President & U.S. National Legislative Representative Raymond A. Holmes also participated in the meeting).
BLE, BNSF sign agreement to create new era in rail employee safety
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) and The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) today announced an agreement that will launch a new era in railroad employee safety programs.
