Rail Industry News
PTC: Fifty years later, a lifesaving technology that could have saved over 300 lives inches toward completion
(Source: Washington Post, April 17, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — On an August evening in 1969, a Connecticut train wreck made history. A pair of passenger trains in Darien collided head-on, killing five people and injuring 35. Full story: Washington Post
Kansas City Southern’s Q1 2019 net profit jumped 16 percent
(Source: Freight Waves, April 17, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Kansas City Southern‘s said its first quarter 2019 net profits rose nearly 16 percent amid its ongoing transition to precision scheduled railroading (PSR). Adjusted net income for the first quarter of 2019...
Union Pacific reports Q1 2019 results
(Source: Union Pacific press release, April 18, 2019) OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Corporation today reported 2019 first quarter net income of $1.4 billion, or $1.93 per diluted share. This compares to $1.3 billion, or $1.68 per diluted share, in the first quarter...
AAR reports rail traffic for the week ending April 13, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, April 17, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending April 13, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 528,167...
Utah prepares for 150th anniversary of the completion of transcontinental railroad
(Source: Radio station KPCW, April 16, 2019) PARK CITY, Utah — The Spike 150 Foundation has been organizing for two years to prepare for the sesquicentennial of the joining of the transcontinental railroad. Full story: www.kpcw.org
CN to appeal Canadian agency’s ruling on freight rail service
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 16, 2019) CN will appeal a Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) ruling issued yesterday that determined the Class I had breached its freight-rail service obligations last year in Vancouver, British Columbia. Full story:...
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...
BLET News
Railroad Retirement Update: Implementation schedule
Due to numerous membership requests, the following tentative Implementation Schedule for the Railroad Retirement and Survivors’ Improvement Act of 2001 has been placed on the BLE website:
Bush signs railroad pension legislation
On December 21, President Bush signed legislation permitting $15.3 billion in railroad pension funds to be invested on Wall Street.
BLE to conduct four S-T training sessions in 2002
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers will conduct four Secretary-Treasurer training workshops in 2002.
Holiday wishes from the President
In an announcement made today in Cleveland, BLE President Don Hahs expressed best wishes for the holiday season to all BLE members in Canada and the United States.
President to sign Railroad Retirement bill tomorrow
The BLE’s National Legislative Office in Washington, D.C., has received confirmation today that President Bush will sign the Railroad Retirement reform legislation (H.R. 10) tomorrow.
Two locomotive engineers injured in three-train derailment
A Union Pacific train derailed in Pacific, Missouri just before dawn Thursday morning. Two locomotive engineers were pulled from the wreckage and four other train crew members were treated for injuries. One of the engineers is being treated for chest injuries.
Railroad Retirement bill ready for President’s signature
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday evening approved H.R. 10, the Railroad Retirement and Survivors’ Improvement Act of 2001, by a 369-33 majority.
A message to BLE members from President Don M. Hahs
You have spoken. On the question of merging our ranks with those of the UTU, by a vote of 17,251 to 7,425, you have clearly, overwhelmingly, stated your preference. By as lopsided a margin as one could imagine, you have said, “no.”
BLE members vote no on UTU merger
By a vote of 17,251 – 7,425, members of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers have said no to a proposed
merger with the United Transportation Union.
BLE engineer killed in Wyoming accident
A grinding crash on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad took the life of a BLE locomotive engineer near Casper, Wyo., on December 7.
