Rail Industry News
Bush library wants to exhibit Air Force One, UP funeral train locomotive
(Source: KWTX, April 9, 2019) COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The George and Barbara Bush Foundation wants both a locomotive and a plane to exhibit at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, but not just any locomotive and not just any plane....
CSX set to begin work on new rail teriminal near Rocky Mount
(Source: Rocky Mount Telegram, April 10, 2019) ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — A groundbreaking for CSX’s proposed intermodal rail facility is going to be in a couple of weeks. Full story: Rocky Mount Telegram
Launch of PTC causes some delays for VRE
(Source: WTOP, April 10, 2019) CHEVY CHASE, Md. — Virginia Railway Express partially blames the roll out of a new safety system for a number of recent delays. Positive Train Control — a system that can slow or stop trains going too fast or approaching another train on...
Louisville & Indiana named 2019 Short Line of the Year
(Source: Anacostia Rail Holdings press release, April 9, 2019) JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — The Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC) was honored Tuesday, April 9 as 2019 Short Line of the Year at the American Short Line and Regional Railroad’s “Connections Convention” in...
Trucking and rail industries to advise regulators on national security
(Source: Freight Waves, April 9, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Security officials in Washington, D.C., will be seeking the advice from trucking and rail groups on formulating regulatory policy that protects surface transportation infrastructure. The U.S. Transportation...
NTSB: CSX workers were walking on Amtrak tracks when struck, killed in 2017 accident
(Source: National Transportation Safety Board press release, April 9, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 2017 deaths of two CSX Transportation workers were the result of their decision to walk on an active Amtrak train track in Washington, D.C., the National Transportation...
NS diverts Missouri traffic due to flooding
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 9, 2019) Norfolk Southern Railway is continuing to address service interruptions due to flooding conditions in Hannibal, Missouri, the Class I announced yesterday. Full story: Progressive Railroading
BNSF, UP operations mostly back to normal in Nebraska after flooding
(Source: Lincoln Journal Star, April 9, 2019) LINCOLN, Neb. — Both BNSF Railway and Union Pacific have reopened all their tracks in Nebraska and the surrounding area with the exception of lines that go from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Kansas City. Full story: Lincoln...
Railroads rolling again after historic flooding
(Source: Freight Waves, April 9, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Railroad tracks are still flooded in some parts of the nation’s breadbasket – from eastern Nebraska to western Iowa, as well as in portions of Missouri – after a historic storm plowed through the region in...
Metra hopes to build flyover to speed trains through bottleneck
(Source: Chicago Tribune, April 8, 2019) CHICAGO — During rush hour, trains are lined up for as far as the eye can see at the wide intersection of tracks at Chicago’s Western and Grand avenues. It’s the site of one of Metra’s biggest bottlenecks, and a major source of...
Another high-profile sporting event fiasco for NJ Transit
(Source: Politico, April 8, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday he would have been “crazed” had he been stuck in the rain with thousands of stranded fans after Sunday night’s WrestleMania event at MetLife Stadium and sharply criticized the...
STB to review petition to amend rail performance reporting rules
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 8, 2019) The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has opened a rule-making proceeding in response to a petition from the American Chemistry Council to amend the board's railroad performance data reporting rules. Full story:...
Without funding, Amtrak’s Hoosier State to end in July
(Source: Journal Review, April 8, 2019) CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. — The Hoosier State trains will stop running this summer until an agreement is reached to continue funding the service, Amtrak announced Monday. Full story: Journal Review
Falling U.S. thermal coal exports to put pressure on domestic utility market
(Source: S&P Global Platts, April 8, 2019) HOUSTON — US thermal coal exports are expected to fall as much as 12% in 2019 and 25% in 2020 given the declining Northern European delivered price, which will put pressure on the US utility and lower-grade US metallurgical...
Norfolk Southern seeks to calm shippers’ anxiety over PSR
(Source: Freight Waves, April 8, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Norfolk Southern’s chief marketing officer sought to assuage shippers’ concerns at a rail shippers’ conference on April 5, saying his company would engage with shippers and seek opportunities to grow capacity...
Federal government foot-dragging helps oil industry delay oil-by-rail rules
(Source: DeSmog Blog, April 5, 2019) NEW YORK — In an attempt to reduce the risk of fiery oil train accidents, the state of Washington is working to pass a bill that would limit the vapor pressure of oil on trains to below 9 pounds per square inch (psi). Vapor...
Rail unions, railroads at odds over crew size mandate
(Source: Washington Examiner, April 5, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, has revived an effort to mandate crew size on freight trains, an issue that divides railroads and rail unions. Rail unions have backed the controversial measure, known as the...
Two Utah museums are honoring the Golden Spike’s 150th anniversary
(Source: Deseret News, April 7, 2019) SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert declared 2019 the Year of the Train, and the Beehive State has taken that declaration to heart. While May 10 will mark 150 years since the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads...
Amtrak’s ridership numbers decline on Missouri River Runner service
(Source: News Tribune, April 6, 2019) JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Although ridership numbers on Amtrak's Missouri River were down for the second quarter of the fiscal year, Missouri Department of Transportation officials said they were much better than in the first quarter....
Tuscaloosa mayor says NS opposes site for new Amtrak station
(Source: Associated Press, April 7, 2019) TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — An Alabama mayor says a railroad is opposing a proposed site for a new Amtrak station, citing safety concerns. Full story: www.al.com
BLET News
BLE condemns ARC vote
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, along with the rest of labor, resoundingly condemns the decision of the Amtrak Reform Council to begin the process of liquidating Amtrak.
“Get out the vote” flyers availabe on BLE website
Flyers encouraging BLE members to vote in the upcoming merger referendum are now available on the BLE website.
UTU members vote for merger with BLE
In a vote certified on October 29, members of the United Transportation Union voted to approve a merger with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers by an almost six-to-one margin.
AFL-CIO lobbies Senate for worker relief plan
The AFL-CIO has asked all affiliates and their members to take part in a massive lobbying effort against the Senate vote on President Bush’s economic stimulus bill.
Memorandum, Consent Order now on website
As a condition of the settlement reached between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, United Transportation Union and the three BLE officers who filed suit challenging the proposed merger of the two organizations, the following legal documents have been posted on the BLE’s website.
Memorandum, Consent Order now on website
As a condition of the settlement reached between the BLE, UTU and the three BLE officers who filed suit challenging the proposed merger of the two unions, the following legal documents have been posted on the BLE’s website.
Remind the Senate: Now is the time for action on S. 697
BLE members and their families are encouraged to continue lobbying for the Railroad Retirement and Survivors’ Improvement Act of 2001 (S.697), by calling their Senator’s offices on a daily basis.
BLE members to vote again on UTU merger
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers will conduct a second referendum vote on whether or not to merge with the United Transportation Union after a lawsuit by three BLE officers halted the original balloting process.
BLE works with U.S. Army during national crisis
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers is working with the U.S. Army Reserves in an effort to recruit experienced railroad employees for two railroad battalions as a result of the current national emergency.
BLE gets organizing win
Employees of the Meridian Southern Railway today unanimously selected the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers as their collective bargaining representative.
