Rail Industry News
Homeland Security training exercise impacts Amtrak in N.Y.
(Source: Columbia-Greene Media, April 17, 2019) NEW YORK — The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services has announced that an “Operation NY S.E.C.U.R.E.” (Securing the Empire Corridor by Unifying Regional Efforts) exercise will take place at...
Hyndman derailment spurs suit against CSX
(Source: Altoona Mirror, April 17, 2019) ALTOONA, Pa. — A lawsuit brought in the Bedford County Court of Common pleas by a Hyndman family, claiming damages for injuries suffered during a 2017 train derailment, has been moved by the CSX railroad to the U.S. District...
Amtrak’s Hoosier State ignored by state Senate as prospects fade to save the line
(Source: Journal & Courier, April 16, 2019) LAFAYETTE, Ind. — There was no last-minute reprieve in the Indiana Senate Tuesday night to save Amtrak’s Hoosier State line, which stops four days a week in downtown Lafayette, going between Indianapolis and Chicago. Full...
Metra, politicians unload on Amtrak over Feb. 28 system failure
(Source: Chicago Sun-Times, April 16, 2019) CHICAGO — Metra’s CEO asserted Tuesday that if Metra controlled Union Station instead of Amtrak, the mistake that stranded nearly 100,000 commuters on Feb. 28 never would have happened. The massive commuter headache happened...
CSX overcomes “polar vortex” to top Wall Street’s profit view in 1Q 2019
(Source: Reuters, April 16, 2019) LOS ANGELES — CSX Corp. on Tuesday reported a quarterly profit that topped Wall Street’s target, after the No. 3 U.S. railroad operator pushed through price increases and contained labor and fuel costs by running fewer, but longer...
CSX 1Q 2019 operating ratio falls below 60 percent
(Source: Freight Waves, April 16, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — CSX achieved an operating ratio of less than 60 percent in the first quarter amid continued efforts to employ precision scheduled railroading (PSR) throughout its network. First-quarter net earnings totaled...
KCS reports Q1 2019 results
(Source: Kansas City Southern press release (PDF), April 17, 2019) KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern (KCS) reported record first quarter revenues of $675 million, an increase of 6% from first quarter 2018. Overall, carload volumes declined by 1% compared to...
CSX announces Q1 2019 results
(Source: CSX press release, April 16, 2019) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corporation today announced first quarter 2019 net earnings of $834 million, or $1.02 per share, versus $695 million, or $0.78 per share in the same period last year (an earnings per share increase...
CSX, R.J. Corman to transport historic locomotive through central Kentucky
(Source: Television station WTVQ, April 15, 2019) LEXINGTON, Ky. — A giant piece of Kentucky’s past will come rumbling through the bluegrass this summer. Chesapeake and Ohio 2716, a massive 75-year old steam locomotive, will travel from the Bardstown area to Ravenna,...
Regulator says CN breached service obligations through use of freight embargoes at West Coast
(Source: Manitoba Co-operator, April 15, 2019) WINNIPEG — Canadian National Railway has been found in breach of its service obligations on grain and other traffic by a federal regulator aiming to crack down on the company’s use of freight embargoes. Full story:...
Indiana State Sen. Alting to issue amendment that would save Hoosier State Line
(Source: WLFI, April 15, 2019) INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — State Senator Ron Alting said he plans to issue an amendment to the state's budget bill that would save the Hoosier State Rail Line. Without a budget change, Amtrak plans to stop running the line this summer. Full...
Mistake adds another delay to LIRR PTC installation
(Source: Long Island News 12, April 15, 2019) MINEOLA — Problems are still plaguing the Long Island Rail Road's effort to install a system that can slow or stop a train in an emergency. During a committee meeting Monday, a Metropolitan Transportation Authority...
Inside BNSF’s advanced drone inspection operation
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 2019 issue) BNSF Railway Co. is leveraging drone technology to bolster inspection processes for its rail network, refine predictive analytics capabilities and test long-range drone operations to set the stage for future use in...
Tax day brings a windfall for Wabtec
(Source: United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America press release, April 15, 2019) PITTSBURGH, Pa. — As Wabtec continues to pursue concessions from its highly skilled workforce in Erie, Pennsylvania the company and its stockholders will enjoy...
Longtime CSX worker was killed on the job weeks before son’s high school graduation
(Source: News Channel 9, April 15, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A devoted railroad worker was killed over the weekend after being hit by a train while on the job. A longtime friend says Allen Lowe's larger-than-life personality could make anyone laugh. Now he leaves two...
Texas asks Union Pacific to test air in homes affected by creosote contamination near Houston’s Fifth Ward
(Source: San Antonio Express-News, April 12, 2019) SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality sent a notice to Union Pacific on Thursday requesting that the company conduct tests on air quality in a residential area affected by a plume of...
American Red Cross workers join Teamsters in Indiana
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, April 12, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Mobile collection staff with the American Red Cross in Evansville, Ind., have voted unanimously to join Teamsters Local 215. There are 16 workers in the bargaining unit....
High-speed rail proposed from Houston to Dallas raises hopes and doubts
(Source: Houston Chronicle, April 11, 2019) HOUSTON — he high-speed rail project that is intended to take travelers between Houston to Dallas in a 90-minute trip was raising hopes and doubts at a transportation meeting hosted by the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of...
STB to hold hearing on Class Is’ demurrage, accessorial charges
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 12, 2019) The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has announced the details for its May 22 public hearing on railroad demurrage and accessorial charges. Full story: Progressive Railroading
Bipartisan group of Senators urges Amtrak to continue support for routes connecting rural communities
(Source: Hays Post, April 14, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) has joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in calling on Amtrak to continue service to rural communities in Kansas and across the United States by investing in long-distance and...
BLET News
Rail Labor suspends S. 697 lobbying efforts
The Railroad Retirement Coalition of Rail Labor Unions fighting for passage of S. 697, the Railroad Retirement and Survivors’ Improvement Act of 2001, has temporarily suspended all lobbying efforts for the next 10 days to two weeks in light of Tuesday’s terrorist attacks upon the United States.
In spite of atrocity, BLE convention will proceed as scheduled
The BLE International Division has received numerous calls from concerned BLE members regarding what impact Tuesday’s terrorists attacks may have on the Brotherhood’s Seventh Quinquennial Convention later this month in Miami, Fla. (Sept. 23-28). In spite of this horrible atrocity, the convention will be held as originally scheduled.
S. 697 up to 69 cosponsors; now is veto-proof
CLEVELAND -- As of June 21, 2001, S. 697, the Railroad Retirement and Survivors Improvement Act of 2001, is up to 69 cosponsors. This number of cosponsors means that the bill has enough Senators supporting it to override a Presidential veto. BLE members and their...
