Rail Industry News
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...
Opinion: Improving railroad cyber-threat resilience
(Source: Railway Age column by Dr. Mark W. Hartong, April 11, 2019) NEW YORK — Railroads are a critical component of America’s transportation infrastructure, and have been making significant investments in advanced networked computer control systems and information...
BNSF receives FAA exemption to advance drone operations
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 12, 2019) BNSF Railway Co. last week was granted exemptions from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016, which will help lay the foundation for expanded drone operations,...
24-year CSX employee killed in accident at Wauhatchie Yards
(Source: The Chattanoogan, April 14, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A 24-year employee of CSX Transportation has been killed in an accident at the Wauhatchie Yards. Allen Lowe was struck by a train. He was the father of two children. Full story: The Chattanoogan
Union Pacific announces 150th anniversary celebration commemorating transcontinental railroad’s completion
(Source: Union Pacific press release, April 10, 2019) OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific will host a celebration marking the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad's completion Thursday, May 9, at 10:30 a.m. MDT. The ceremony will be held at Ogden Union Station a...
Update on California bullet train
(Source: Streetsblog San Francisco, April 11, 2019) SAN FRANCISCO — As Mark Twain might have said had he witnessed the past couple of months, the reports of the death of California’s statewide high-speed rail system are greatly exaggerated. Full story: Streetsblog San...
Canadian farmers want assurances on crude-by-rail plan
(Source: Western Producer, April 11, 2019) SASKATOON — Farm leaders are still wary of Alberta’s plans to move more oil by rail, hoping whoever wins the election will be able to prove grain movement won’t be affected. The deal, which would see the province move 120,000...
RAC, Transport Canada agree to cut locomotive emissions
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 10, 2019) The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Transport Canada to establish voluntary reduction targets for locomotive-produced emissions. Full story: Progressive...
Operation Lifesaver notes mixed results in 2018 for crossing, trespass casualties
(Source: Operation Lifesaver press release, April 10, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Recently-released U.S. government statistics reveal that railroad grade crossing collisions and rail trespass deaths increased in 2018, according to rail safety education nonprofit...
Should the rail industry look beyond operating ratio?
(Source: Freight Waves, April 11, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — With almost all of the Class I railroads transitioning to precision scheduling railroading (PSR), an operational model that emphasizes running railcars on a fixed schedule, a question surfacing within the...
Plan to ship natural gas by rail raises alarm
(Source: Fortune, April 11, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump wants to allow natural gas to be shipped in railroad cars, a move that would open new markets hungry for the fuel but could risk catastrophic accidents if one were to derail. Trump on...
Lawmakers seek to mandate two-person crews on freight trains
(Source: Safety and Health Magazine, April 10, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Legislation reintroduced by Rep. Don Young (R-AK) on March 13 would require at least two certified crew members on all freight trains operated in the United States. “Requiring a second crew member...
AAR reports rail traffic for the week ending April 6, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, April 10, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending April 6, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 510,192...
Supreme Court finds injury award for lost wages is taxable compensation under Railroad Retirement Tax Act
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, March 22, 2019) CHICAGO — A recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court found that the portion of a damages award attributable to lost wages for a workplace injury is considered to be taxable compensation under the...
Amtrak halts post-July reservations for imperiled Hoosier State line
(Source: Associated Press, April 10, 2019) LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Amtrak has stopped taking reservations beyond July 1 for an Indianapolis-to-Chicago passenger line that could soon lose funding from the state of Indiana. Full story: Houston Chronicle
BLET News
AFL-CIO urges Congress to vote no on Fast Track
The AFL-CIO is organizing a national Call Congress day in an effort to derail harmful Fast Track legislation.
Senate OKs Railroad Retirement reform, 90-9
Members of the United States Senate this morning voted 90-9 in favor of the Railroad Retirement and Survivors’ Improvement Act of 2001.
Keep up the pressure on Railroad Retirement bill
The National Legislative Office of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers today issued a reminder to all members to keep up the pressure on the Senate to pass the Railroad Retirement Reform legislation, which is expected to hit the Senate floor next week.
Senate votes 96-4 for cloture on Railroad Retirement bill
After difficult behind the scenes lobbying, members of the Rail Labor Coalition were able to convince Senators to overturn die-hard Republican opposition to the Railroad Retirement and Survivors’ Improvement Act of 2001.
BLE members eligible for discount computers
Union Privilege has once again teamed up with IBM to offer computers and computer-related accessories at a 10 percent discount to union members.
Roberts thanks BLE delegates for contributions
Delegates at the BLE International Convention in Miami Beach, Fla. contributed more than their votes and voices to the BLE — they also raised money for the families of 13 mine workers killed in an accident on September 23.
BLE member killed in Michigan crash
A head-on collision yesterday outside of Detroit left two members of one train crew dead and two members of the other crew injured.
Open letter from Boyd to Hahs is available on BLE website
CLEVELAND, November 15, 2001 -- A letter written by UTU International President Byron A. Boyd to BLE International President Don M. Hahs replying to the letter of dissent included with the merger ballot can be viewed by clicking on the following link:...
Collision leaves two dead, two injured in Michigan
Two were dead and two were injured when freight trains collided Thursday. The accident occurred at about 6:15 a.m. about 25 miles northwest Detroit.
Dukakis ‘baffled’ by ARC vote
In an exclusive telephone interview, Amtrak Board member Michael Dukakis expressed his dismay at the Amtrak Reform Council’s recommendation for liquidation of the national passenger railroad.
