Rail Industry News
Union Pacific continues flood battle
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, June 4, 2019) NEW YORK — Flooding in the Midwest this spring has been historic, and rail lines just got in the way of Mother Nature’s powerful stampede. Union Pacific has been working around the clock in attempt to restore service...
Wabtec, UE Union return to the negotiating table Wednesday
(Source: Erie News Now, June 4, 2019) ERIE, Pa. — It's been a long night of bargaining for the two sides in the ongoing labor dispute out at the Wabtec plant in Lawrence park, but there is still no deal as of Tuesday morning. They went past the midnight expiration of...
Amtrak, freight railroads continue service suspensions due to flooding
(Source: Progressive Railroading, June 3, 2019) Severe weather, heavy rain and historic flooding conditions continue to affect freight and passenger railroads' operations in parts of the U.S. South, Central Plains and Midwest regions. Full story: Progressive...
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...
BLET News
Meany Center offers additional hazmat training
Due to increasing demand, the George Meany Center-National Labor College will conduct an extra hazardous waste/chemical emergency response training program this year at its campus in Silver Spring, Md.
NMB emphasizes operating craft distinctions in KCS ruling
In dismissing the United Transportation Union’s application to create a single operating craft on the Kansas City Southern Railway, the National Mediation Board ruled in the BLE’s favor on a number of points to confirm that two distinct operating crafts exist on the Class 1 railroad.
NMB decision available
A copy of the National Mediation Board’s decision on the Kansas City Southern single-craft issue is available on the NMB’s website.
MAJOR VICTORY FOR BLE, LABOR
The National Mediation Board today dismissed the United Transportation Union’s application to create a single craft of “Train and Engine Service Employees” on the Kansas City Southern Railway.
Procedural neutral hears argument on tie-breaking method for remote control arbitration
Yesterday in St. Louis, arbitrator Francis X. Quinn heard argument from the BLE, UTU, and rail carriers involved in the dispute over remote control assignments on the procedural question of how the merits arbitration board should break a deadlock.
BLE announces grant for Local Chairman workshops
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers has received a $32,000 grant from the North American Railway Foundation to assist in the training and education of its membership.
New NMB members Fitzmaurice, Hoglander confirmed by Senate
The National Mediation Board has two new Board Members — Edward J. Fitzmaurice and Harry R. Hoglander — who were confirmed last night by the U.S. Senate.
CN-IC deal emphasizes better quality of life
The BLE’s recently ratified contract agreement with Canadian National’s former Illinois Central properties marks a radical change from traditional mileage-based agreements.
BLE members on CN’s former IC properties ratify new labor agreement
Canadian National (CN) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) announced the ratification of a new labor agreement by the locomotive engineers working on CN’s former Illinois Central (IC) properties.
BLE and Teamsters approve Procedural Agreement
The BLE Advisory Board and the Teamsters’ General Executive Board have approved a procedural agreement that will govern the merger process up to and including the submission of an agreement for ratification.
