Rail Industry News
North Dakota promises suit if Washington governor signs oil train law
(Source: Associated Press, April 30, 2019) BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota intends to sue Washington if that state's governor signs legislation requiring oil shipped by rail to have more of its volatile gases removed. Proponents of the bill say it would boost safety....
It’s official: Hoosier State Amtrak line from Chicago to Indianapolis to end July 1 because Indiana won’t fund it
(Source: Chicago Tribune, April 30, 2019) CHICAGO — The Hoosier State Amtrak passenger train that runs between Chicago and Indianapolis will end after June 30 due to a lack of state funding, an Indiana official confirmed. Full story: Chicago Tribune
Genesee & Wyoming opens bulk transfer facility in California
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 29, 2019) Genesee & Wyoming lnc. (G&W) last week announced the opening of a Choice Terminal™ bulk transfer facility on its San Joaquin Valley Railroad Co. (SJVR) subsidiary in Millux, Calif. Full story: Progressive...
Union Pacific re-thinks Brazos Yard timing
(Source: Railway Age, April 29, 2019) NEW YORK — Union Pacific contractors were moving lots of dirt when this reporter visited the Brazos Yard site in Texas in November 2018. The location was to be the new crown of UP’s capabilities to improve and increase volume and...
North Dakota congressional delegation urges veto of Washington state oil train legislation
(Source: Bismarck Tribune, April 29, 2019) BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota’s congressional delegation is urging the governor of Washington state to veto legislation they say would result in a “de facto ban” of crude-by-rail traffic from the Bakken. The bill prohibits...
How railroads are keeping trains safe from hackers
(Source: Fast Company, April 29, 2019) NEW YORK — Railroads have historically focused on safety, from ensuring tracks and trains are properly maintained to making sure pedestrians and drivers stay out of harm’s way, but lately they’ve also emphasized a new type of...
CN declares second-quarter 2019 dividend
(Source: CN press release, April 29, 2019) MONTREAL — CN announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a second-quarter 2019 dividend on the Company’s common shares outstanding. A quarterly dividend of fifty-three and three-fourths cents (C$0.5375) per...
Harsh winter chills CN’s 1Q 2019 revenues
(Source: Canadian Press, April 29, 2019) MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway Co. saw first-quarter profits fall slightly short of analysts' expectations as harsh winter weather worked to ramp up operating costs and offset a hefty increase in revenue. Canada’s largest...
Railroads blame PSR, harsh weather for muted intermodal growth
(Source: Supply Chain Dive, April 29, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Intermodal growth in 2018 may have created the illusion that a rising tide would lift all ships. Now it's becoming clear that when intermodal growth is less robust, operational strategies, such as PSR,...
Union Pacific moves monster loaded coal train with two distributed power sets to Wisconsin power plant
(Source: Trains.com, April 29, 2019) OAK CREEK, Wis. — With Precision Scheduled Railroading in effect at Union Pacific, longer trains have become more frequent across its system. UP recently moved one monster coal train that had 270 loads, totaled 38,475 tons, and...
UE Local 610 members rally against Wabtec concessions
(Source: United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) press release, April 29, 2019) WILMERDING, Pa. — Members of UE Local 610, who work at Wabtec’s Wilmerding and Greensburg facilities, rallied on Saturday, April 27 against Wabtec’s demands for...
CN reports 1Q 2019 financial results
(Source: CN press release, April 29, 2019) MONTREAL CN today reported its financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019. “I’m pleased that the CN team continued to deliver very solid results during the first quarter of 2019,” said JJ...
Celebrations and history: 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad
(Source: Daily Nonpareil, April 28, 2019) COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — This year marks the 150th anniversary of the completion of the nation’s first transcontinental railroad. As someone who did not grow up here, it’s been such a pleasure to learn more about this momentous...
Wyoming governor criticizes consideration of coal plant closures in state
(Source: Casper Star Tribune, April 26, 2019) CASPER, Wyo. — Gov. Mark Gordon said he was “deeply concerned” Friday by Rocky Mountain Power’s serious consideration of shuttering some coal-fired power plant units in Wyoming within four years. Full story: Casper Star...
Teamsters Military Assistance Program meets with Army, Soldier for Life program
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, April 26, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — General President Hoffa and Airline Division Director David Bourne recently met with Sergeant Major of the Army and Senior Enlisted Member of the U.S. Army, Daniel Dailey...
CSX challenges family’s lawsuit in Hyndman derailment
(Source: Altoona Mirror, April 27, 2019) ALTOONA, Pa. — CSX railroad has answered a lawsuit filed against it last week, admitting that there was an air leak in the brake system of one railcar in a train that derailed in Hyndman Borough in 2017, but denying and...
Norfolk Southern cited for repeatedly blocking busy intersection near Dayton, Ohio
(Source: Dayton Daily News, April 25, 2019) MORAINE, Ohio — A railroad company has been cited eight times this year for blocking a busy local intersection with railcars, sometimes up to three hours and at least one time detouring an ambulance en route to the hospital....
Can high-speed rail foes stop the Texas bullet train?
(Source: CityLab, April 26, 2019) DALLAS — For rail fans who cling to the dream that the United States will someday boast the high-speed rail systems that much of the rest of the world enjoys, the plan to bring bullet trains to Texas has been something of a ray of...
Oil companies say industry could take on Alberta crude-by-rail deals
(Source: Reuters, April 26, 2019) CALGARY — Executives at some of Canada’s biggest oil producers say the private sector could potentially step in to take over Alberta government crude-by-rail contracts that the province’s new premier has vowed to scrap. Full story:...
Amtrak OIG investigation leads to settlement in alleged bid rigging
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 26, 2019) The U.S. Attorney's Office of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania reached a $466,500 settlement this week with a Michigan-based electric company and two construction firms after an Amtrak Office of Inspector General...
BLET News
BLE members encouraged to sign up for TTD newsletter
The Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, is urging all transportation union members, including members of the BLE, to log on to its website —
BLE files lawsuit against Secretary of Transportation Mineta and FRA Administrator Rutter
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers filed a lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia over the issue of remote control.
NTSB issues safety recommendation to CSXT
In a safety recommendation issued yesterday, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that CSX Transportation’s failure to sufficiently train and oversee a locomotive engineer, as well as a flawed operating rule, led to a fatal freight train derailment two years ago in Bloomington, Md.
Local Chairman killed by Amtrak train
A BLE Local Chairman was struck and killed by an Amtrak train at approximately 12:30 a.m. yesterday near Wilmington, Del.
BNSF safety agreement out for ratification
The four BLE General Committees of Adjustment representing locomotive engineers on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway are in the process of voting on a proposed safety agreement, which stems from the April 2001 “safety summit” between the BLE, BNSF and the United Transportation Union.
Important information about disability annuities
The Labor Member’s office of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board released the following important information last week regarding the retroactivity of disability annuities.
BLE to conduct 3 local chairman workshops
The BLE Education & Training Department is conducting three Local Chairman workshops in 2002, and the first is scheduled for May 12-17 on the campus of the George Meany Center in Silver Spring, Md.
BLE Ratifies Ground-Breaking Labor Agreement with CN’s Wisconsin Central Division
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) and Wisconsin Central Division (WCD) of Canadian National today announced ratification of a ground-breaking labor agreement by the BLE’s WCD members.
Pa. measure would improve rail safety
On March 12, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation to improve rail safety on the vast network of tracks that crisscross Beaver County and flow through the Commonwealth.
BLE responds to CSX Vice-President’s criticism
In a sharply worded reply to a misleading letter from CSX Executive Vice President A.F. Crown, BLE International President Don M. Hahs defended the BLE’s rights and justifications in setting up informational pickets last week to inform members of the CSX Board of Directors about the BLE’s position regarding remote control technology.
