Rail Industry News
Norfolk Southern coal volumes fall to three year low in Q1 2019
(Source: S&P Global Platts, April 24, 2019) HOUSTON — Norfolk Southern saw its coal volumes decrease in the first quarter of 2019 by 4.4% from the year-ago quarter, as shipments across the board saw year-on-year declines, the railroad said Wednesday. Full story: S&P...
Did heavy rainfall contribute to UP derailment, massive ethanol fire in Fort Worth?
(Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, April 24, 2019) FORT WORTH, Texas — Did an incredibly powerful rainfall early Wednesday contribute to a train derailment in south Fort Worth — one that caused a massive ethanol fire, forced residents from about 20 area homes and...
Homes evacuated, horses killed as UP ethanol train derails in Texas
(Source: Associated Press, April 24, 2019) FORT WORTH, Texas — At least three horses were killed and several Texas homes evacuated early Wednesday when a train carrying the highly flammable liquid ethanol derailed and caught fire. It wasn't immediately clear what...
Five years ago: The CSX oil train derailment in downtown Lynchburg
(Source: News & Advance, April 23, 2019) LYNCHBURG, Va. — It was April 30, 2014 when 17 cars of a CSX oil train derailed near Ninth and Jefferson streets in downtown Lynchburg, sending three cars into the James River. A massive fire followed, and officials evacuated a...
150th anniversary of golden spike expected to draw 12,000
(Source: Idaho State Journal, April 23, 2019) PROMONTORY, Utah — At a time when the North and South were divided by the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation on July 1, 1862, to unify the East and West through the creation of a Transcontinental...
Hoosiers plan one final push to save Hoosier State Line
(Source: Television station WLFI, April 23, 2019) LAFAYETTE, Ind. — With time running out for a new state budget, passenger rail supporters are making one final push to save the Hoosier State Line. Hundreds of supporters are expected to speak with elected officials at...
Crude by rail vapor standards bill heads to Washington governor’s desk
(Source: S&P Global Platts, April 23, 2019) WASHINGTON — A bill that could dramatically impact roughly 150,000 b/d of crude-by-rail traffic to refineries in the Pacific Northwest has been sent to Washington Governor Jay Inslee's desk to be signed into law, but it...
STB: U.S. Class I employment fell in March
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 23, 2019) U.S. Class Is employed 144,948 people in mid-March, down 0.58 percent compared with mid-February's level and down 0.11 percent compared with March 2018's count, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB) data. On...
CP Rail’s 1Q 2019 profit soared on higher crude revenues despite tough winter weather
(Source: Canadian Press, April 23, 2019) CALGARY, Alberta — The head of Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. says heavy snowfall and frigid temperatures cooled the company's quarterly results, resulting in lower tonnage numbers despite a boost in profits thanks in part to...
CP Rail reports Q1 2019 results
(Source: Canadian Pacific Railway press release, April 23, 2019) CALGARY — Canadian Pacific Railway Limited today announced first-quarter revenues of $1.77 billion and reported diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.09, or $2.79 on an adjusted diluted EPS basis. "This...
NS furloughs more than 40 Roanoke-area workers
(Source: Roanoke Times, April 23, 2019) ROANOKE, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corp. put more than 40 Roanoke workers on leave Tuesday. Furloughs posted at Shaffer’s Crossing Locomotive Shop hit 20 electricians and 23 other positions, said Shannon Spotswood, a Vinton-based...
Norfolk Southern reports net income of $677 million in first quarter of 2019
(Source: Norfolk Southern press release, April 24, 2019) NORFOLK, Va. — First-quarter net income was $677 million, up 23 percent year-over-year, a result of a 16 percent increase in income from railway operations and an increase in other income. Diluted earnings per...
Winter Park ski train breaks ridership record with help from epic snow, adult beverages
(Source: Denver Post, April 22, 2019) DENVER — The addition of a lounge car and abundant snow at Winter Park appear to have driven a big jump in ridership for Amtrak’s Winter Park Express ski train this year. Full story: Denver Post
Lawsuits: Hyndman residents suffered eye, throat, sinus injuries after 2017 CSX derailment
(Source: Tribune-Democrat, April 23, 2019) JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Several residents of Hyndman were injured when a CSX Transportation train carrying propane and molten sulfur derailed and caught fire in the small Bedford County borough in 2017, according to lawsuits those...
DHS announces preparedness grant opportunities
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 22, 2019) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced fiscal-year 2019 notices of funding opportunity for more than $1.7 billion in preparedness grant programs. The programs provide grants to state, local,...
DOT announces availability of $900 million in infrastructure grant funds
(Source: U.S. Department of Transportation press release, April 22, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has formally announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to apply for $900 million in discretionary grant funding through the...
FRA, NHTSA launch rail crossing safety campaign
(Source: U.S. Department of Transportation press release, April 18, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today relaunched a $5.6 million public...
Virgin Trains sells $1.75 billion in private activity bonds for expansion to Orlando
(Source: TCPalm, April 22, 2019) STUART, Fla. — Virgin Trains USA, formerly Brightline, closed on the sale of $1.75 billion in private activity bonds that will help fund the company's expansion to Orlando, according to a statement issued Friday. Full story:...
Rep. Lipinski holds hearing on public transit, including Metra
(Source: Herald-News, April 22, 2019) CHICAGO — U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Western Springs, hosted a hearing last week with officials from Metra, Amtrak and freight railroads to question them about needed service improvements for commuters. Full story: Herald-News
KCS EVP Hancock sells $579,930 in company stock
(Source: Finance Daily, April 22, 2019) NEW YORK — Kansas City Southern EVP Brian D. Hancock sold 4,648 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 18. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.77, for a total transaction of $579,930.96....
BLET News
BLE-Gateway Western sign contract
The BLE General Committee of Adjustment for the Gateway Western Railway, a subsidiary of Kansas City Southern, announced the signing of an agreement that gives some locomotive engineers pay increases of more than 49 percent.
UTU evicted in Nebraska
Due to its non-affiliate status with the national AFL-CIO, United Transportation Union representatives were evicted from their offices at the Western Nebraska Central Labor Council’s headquarters in Alliance, Neb.
Teamsters pledge to support BLE
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) is lending its full support to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers in its battle to preserve historic rail operating crafts and to fend off raiding attempts by the United Transportation Union.
Meany Center offers hazmat training
The George Meany Center-National Labor College will conduct four hazardous waste/chemical emergency response training programs in 2002 at its campus in Silver Spring, Md.
BLE strikes Canadian shortline
In an effort to obtain their first-ever contract, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers are on strike against the Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia Railway (CB&CNS), a subsidiary of RailAmerica.
Labor dismisses report of Amtrak Reform Council as ‘biased’
The following statement was issued today by Sonny Hall, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, on the release of the final report of the Amtrak Reform Council:
BLE gains exclusive right to attend apprentice engineer training classes
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Grand Trunk Western Railroad have signed a new contract that gives the BLE the exclusive right to attend apprentice engineer training classes.
Amtrak to layoff 1,000, make other cuts
Amtrak President George Warrington today announced the elimination of 300 management positions and 700 agreement positions in an effort to boost the railroad’s bottom line.
BLE to suspend temporary dues assessment after two months
The BLE’s Advisory Board today passed a motion that will suspend the temporary dues assessment after two months of implementation.
RRB Update: Benefit Changes
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board released the following document today in an effort to answer some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the Railroad Retirement and Survivors’ Improvement Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-90).
