Rail Industry News
DOT’s Chao creates council to review new transportation technology
(Source: Progressive Railroading, March 13, 2019) U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao yesterday announced the creation of a new council at the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) that would be tasked with identifying and resolving jurisdictional and...
NJ, Amtrak working out Raritan Valley Line schedule
(Source: www.nj.com, March 12, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — Raritan Valley Line riders won’t learn when their direct off-peak New York trains will return, until NJ Transit works out a new spring schedule around Amtrak’s planned summer track work in Penn Station New York. Full...
Teamster dispatchers, Allegiant Air reach agreement in principle
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, March 6, 2019) LAS VEGAS — The Teamsters Union and Allegiant Air reached an agreement in principle yesterday for the 34 dispatchers employed at Allegiant. This will be the first contract for the...
NW Indiana task force sets sights on lobbying Congress to take on railroad stoppages
(Source: Post-Tribune, March 12, 2019) CHICAGO — Efforts to keep railroads from blocking street crossings should focus on Congress, participants at a Northwest Indiana Rail Crossing Task Force meeting said. State legislation will almost certainly be overruled by...
Transit officers reach agreement with SEPTA, ending strike
(Source: NBC Philadelphia, March 12, 2019) PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The Fraternal Order of Transit Police — Lodge 109, which represents 178 officers sworn to protect riders and property on trains, buses and trolleys and at area stations, and SEPTA management reached a...
Teamsters honor fallen firefighter
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, March 12, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thousands of people from Maine, around the country, and the world, gathered in Portland on Sunday to honor Captain Joel Barnes of the Berwick Fire Department. The...
BNSF, Amtrak detail PTC progress at House hearing
(Source: Transport Topics, March 12, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Executives from BNSF Railway Co. and Amtrak assured federal lawmakers of their firms’ adherence to congressionally mandated requirements regarding automatic braking technology. Full story: Transport...
BHP runaway train crash investigation: Workers applied brakes to wrong train
(Source: The Guardian, March 11, 2019) LONDON — Maintenance workers accidentally applied brakes to the wrong train last year before a BHP train laden with iron ore travelled for 91 kilometers without a driver in Western Australia and had to be deliberately derailed....
CSX management turnover gives analysts reason for concern
(Source: Trains, March 12, 2019) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — One of the things CSX Transportation aimed to accomplish at its investor day a year ago was to showcase its next generation of leadership and calm investor concerns after the death of CEO E. Hunter Harrison. Full...
Milwaukee-Chicago Amtrak route sets ridership record
(Source: Television station WDJT, March 11, 2019) MILWAUKEE, Wisc. — The Milwaukee-Chicago Amtrak Hiawatha service had an all-time record of more than 858,000 riders in 2018, a little more than a 3.5% increase compared to 2017. Full story: www.cbs58.com
Genesee & Wyoming explores selling minority stake in the company
(Source: Reuters, March 11, 2019) NEW YORK — Genesee & Wyoming Inc, which owns and operates freight railroads, is exploring strategic options including the sale of a minority stake, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Full story:...
SEPTA transit police continue strike after latest negotiations break down
(Source: CBS Philadelphia, March 11, 2019) PHILADELPHIA — There appears to be no end in sight to SEPTA’s Transit Police strike. Another round of talks between SEPTA management and union representatives ended without a deal Sunday night. Full story: CBS...
CP Rail under pressure after recent train derailments
(Source: Bow Valley Crag & Canyon, March 11, 2019) BANFF, Alberta — A section of the Bow Valley Parkway remains closed as the cleanup operation continues at the site of the train derailment in Banff National Park on February 28. Full story: Bow Valley Crag & Canyon
North America’s railroads post strong performances in 2018
(Source: American Journal of Transportation, March 11, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Just about 150-years ago with the driving of the 17.6-karat Last Spike [aka Golden Spike] the first transcontinental railroad across the U.S. becamte a reality — linking the Central...
Derailments raise concerns about the surge in oil trains
(Source: Toronto Star, March 11, 2019) TORONTO — Now that so much oil is being shipped by rail from Alberta to points south and west, the sight of a crumpled freight train on the banks of the Kicking Horse River high in the Rocky Mountains has taken on a new twist....
NY, NJ legislators seek “doomsday” plan for rail tunnel failure
(Source: Television station New Jersey 12, March 11, 2019) NEW YORK — New Jersey Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer and New York Republican Rep. Peter King are pushing for a "doomsday" plan in case the century-old rail tunnel between New Jersey and New York has a major...
Trump budget doesn’t include funding for Gateway tunnel, DOT says
(Source: AM New York, March 11, 2019) NEW YORK — The White House’s proposed 2020 budget does not include any new funding for the stalled Gateway Program, which in part would replace the two 110-year-old, Sandy-damaged Hudson River tunnels — a vital, 2.5-mile link for...
Trump proposes massive cuts to transit, Amtrak
(Source: Streetsblog USA, March 11, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump Administration wants to cut funding for new transit projects by 39 percent and slash funding for Amtrak by 23 percent — even as it raises highway spending — the preliminary 2020 budget reveals....
BNSF employee taken to hospital after being clipped by train in Whitefish
(Source: Flathead Beacon, March 11, 2019) KALISPELL, Mont. — A BNSF Railway employee working in the Whitefish rail yard was taken to the hospital last week after being “clipped” by a passing train. Whitefish Fire Chief Joe Page said first responders were called to the...
SEPTA transit officer strike continues for sixth day
(Source: Television station WPVI, March 10, 2019) PHILADELPHIA — Sunday marks the fifth day in a row for the transit officer strike. Right now, 49 SEPTA supervisors have been filling 12-hour shifts to patrol the transit system. But the SEPTA system is usually...
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