Rail Industry News
Amtrak “sees promise” in Detroit-Toronto corridor
(Source: CBC News, April 4, 2019) TORONTO — The largest U.S. passenger rail system is hoping to connect its service to southwestern Ontario. Amtrak, which operates inter-city passenger trains in the United States has asked for federal funding to bring back the Detroit...
Campaign fights BNSF plan for “wall of rail cars” on Richmond shoreline
(Source: San Francisco Chronicle, April 7, 2019) RICHMOND, Calif. — On a recent morning, small waves lapped at the rocky shore, picnickers gathered at tables around a lagoon, and families perambulated along the eastern edge of San Francisco Bay to enjoy a sunny day in...
Amtrak strikes deal to redevelop Penn Station with Baltimore developers, investing $90 million
(Source: Baltimore Sun, April 4, 2019) BALTIMORE, Md. — Amtrak and a team of locally led developers have reached an agreement expected to kick-start a $400 million to $600 million transformation of the area around Baltimore’s historic Penn Station, creating a...
Union Pacific EVP Knight sells 10,000 shares of company stock
(Source: Highlight Press, April 8, 2019) NEW YORK — Union Pacific Co. EVP Robert M. Knight, Jr. sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 4. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.01, for a total value of $1,700,100.00....
CSX closes Russell facility; 113 jobs lost
(Source: Herald-Dispatch, April 6, 2019) RUSSELL, Ky. — CSX announced Friday morning to employees at its Russell, Kentucky, facility that the company will close the Russell Locomotive Shop and eliminate 113 positions. Full story: Herald-Dispatch
Amtrak says Gateway project will be built, cost shared by railroad, feds and state
(Source: Bloomberg, April 4, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak executives say a new rail tunnel linking New York and New Jersey must be built -- sooner rather than later -- with the costs shared among the states, railroad and federal government. Full story: Bloomberg
U.S. rail interests see China as major security risk
(Source: Freight Waves, April 8, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — China’s push for industrial market share around the world to prop up the country’s employment base is heightening concern about the country’s potential to infiltrate the U.S. freight rail system. Full story:...
U.S. coal production posts year-on-year drop for fifth straight week
(Source: S&P Global Platts, April 4, 2019) HOUSTON — US weekly coal production was estimated to be 10.5 million st for the week ended March 30, down 6.6% from the previous week and down 26.3% from the year-ago week, US Energy Information Administration data showed...
AAR reports rail traffic for March and the week ending March 30, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, April 3, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending March 30, 2019, as well as volumes for March 2019. U.S. railroads originated...
New York rules out food service restoration on Amtrak trains
(Source: Albany Times Union, April 2, 2019) RENSSELAER, N.Y. — Don’t look for the cafe car to reopen anytime soon on Amtrak trains originating and terminating in Albany. Full story: Albany Times Union
Canadian transportation regulators seek public input on rail amendments
(Source: Freight Waves, April 2, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) is seeking public comments on amendments to regulations that govern the rail rates that Canadian National and Canadian Pacific set for hauling grain in western Canada....
SEPTA calls on public officials to address transit funding
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 2, 2019) The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA), in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), yesterday issued a report calling on state and local official to address the “looming...
Amtrak considering return of Detroit-Toronto train service
(Source: Curbed Detroit, April 1, 2019) DETROIT — There hasn’t been passenger rail connecting Detroit and Toronto since the late 1960s. Amtrak wants that to change. In its annual report submitted to Congress that includes grant requests for 2020, the rail operator...
Costco Teamsters in California, East Region ratify contracts
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, April 2, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Costco Teamsters covered by two separate contracts for California and the East region have voted to ratify the two agreements. The California agreement passed with 86...
How late is late? LIRR’s on-time guidelines are changing
(Source: CBS New York, April 2, 2019) NEW YORK — The Long Island Rail Road will have to change the way it reports on-time performance thanks to the new state budget. In one example, the commuter line will have to consider a train “late” – if it arrives more than two...
There will be fewer canceled trains once NJ Transit finishes training new engineers
(Source: www.nj.com, March 29, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit has some good news for rail commuters who’ve endured waves of canceled trains due to a shortage of people to operate them: a class of would-be-engineers aced the first half of their training. Full story:...
Amtrak Inspector General says railroad wastes $23 million on unneeded office space
(Source: Washington Post, April 2, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak wasted at least $23 million by acquiring unneeded office space in Boston, New York, Washington and several other cities, according to a report by the railroad's inspector general. The report by Stephen...
Big issues unresolved between Wabtec, union workers in Erie, Pa.
(Source: GoErie.com, April 3, 2019) ERIE, Pa. — Talks this past week between Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp. and the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers at the former GE Transportation plant in Erie have produced agreement on a couple of...
BNSF rail delays leave farmers waiting to ship grain
(Source: Grand Forks Herald, April 2, 2019) GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Extreme winter weather paired with flooding in parts of the Midwest has led to delays for the BNSF Railway Company, and for commodities shipments. Full story: Grand Forks Herald
Latter-day Saints helped build transcontinental railroad
(Source: Salt Lake Tribune, April 2, 2019) SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Utah is about to throw a big celebration for the 150th anniversary of the May 10, 1869, completion of the transcontinental railroad. Many realize it was built largely by Chinese immigrants for the...
BLET News
BLE election results
What follows are the complete unofficial election results from the BLE’s Seventh Quinquennial International Convention, held in Miami Beach, Fla., from September 24-28, 2001.
BLE, not UTU, has remote control jurisdiction
BLE International President Don M. Hahs today challenged the United Transportation Union’s attempt to “circumvent the law” and gain jurisdiction over remote control technology, stating that the BLE — not UTU — is the union that carriers must bargain with to implement the new technology.
Coalition resumes S. 697 lobbying
The Railroad Retirement Coalition immediately resumes lobbying efforts today on behalf of S. 697, the Railroad Retirement and Survivors’ Improvement Act of 2001. Their efforts were temporarily suspended after the September 11 terrorist attacks on America.
Hahs takes reins of BLE
Newly-elected International President Don M. Hahs arrived in Cleveland today for his first day in office as head of North America’s senior rail labor union.
Hahs new BLE president
Delegates at the BLE’s Seventh Quinquennial International Convention yesterday elected Don Hahs to the office of International President.
BLE International Division convention to begin today
The BLE’s Seventh Quinquennial Convention in Miami Beach will begin at 9 a.m. today with a moment of silence for the victims of the September 11 attacks.
UTU attacks BLE on KCS after judge impounds merger ballots
Just 24 hours after a federal judge enjoined the counting of ballots in the proposed merger between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) and the United Transportation Union (UTU), the UTU reversed its direction, and launched an attack on BLE members working for the Kansas City Southern Railway (KCS) and other KCS-owned properties.
Judge impounds BLE-UTU merger ballots
U.S. District Judge Ann Aldrich today granted a preliminary injunction, which, for the foreseeable future, effectively halts the proposed merger of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers with the United Transportation Union.
Judge to rule by 5 p.m. today on BLE-UTU merger vote count
U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aldrich indicated she would rule today — by 5 p.m. eastern daylight time — on the petition by three officers of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers halt the BLE-UTU merger-vote count.
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.
