Rail Industry News
Chicago commuters less than thrilled with Union Station makeover
(Source: CBS Chicago, February 19, 2019) CHICAGO — Broken beams and tracks out of service; it seems like Metra makes headlines every week. Repairs are underway at home base in Union Station, but commuters are struggling to see the benefits of another huge project that...
Tracks reopen after BNSF coal train derailment in Minnesota
(Source: Duluth News Tribune, February 18, 2019) DULUTH, Minn. — The railroad north of Cloquet has reopened to train traffic as crews continue to clean up a 40-car train derailment that dumped more than 4,000 tons of coal along the track and onto the frozen St. Louis...
Norfolk Southern COO Wheeler sells $858,000 in company stock
(Source: Fairfield Current, February 15, 2019) NEW YORK — Norfolk Southern Corp. COO Michael Joseph Wheeler sold 4,761 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 12. The shares were sold at an average price of $180.23, for a...
Judge rules coal company can eliminate retirees’ health care, union contract
(Source: Casper Star-Tribune, February 18, 2019) CASPER, Wyo. — Retired coal miners from Kemmerer likely lost their company health benefits Friday when a judge decided that Westmoreland Coal Co. could eliminate retirement health care and a union contract in order to...
Southwest Chief boosts states’ coffers
(Source: La Junta Tribune-Democrat, February 18, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thwarting plans to replace a portion of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief service with a bus between Albuquerque and Dodge City saved the economies of New Mexico, Colorado and Kansas from what would have...
Proposal would allot millions to maintain New Mexico tracks for Amtrak
(Source: Television station KRQE, February 19, 2019) SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexicans already pay a fortune to keep the Rail Runner going. Now, a state senator wants everyone to pitch in more money to keep Amtrak running here too. He is asking for $5 million a year to...
Federal budget measure would include $50 million for Amtrak’s Southwest Chief
(Source: Associated Press, February 18, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Lawmakers say a federal budget compromise approved by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump provides $50 million of additional federal funding to maintain Amtrak rail passenger service through...
No, Gov. Newsom didn’t just kill California’s high-speed rail project
(Source: Capital Public Radio, February 14, 2019) SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom’s remarks on California’s embattled high-speed rail project in his State of the State address this week seemed to confuse just about everyone. Full story: Capital Public...
CN train carrying oil derails in western Manitoba
(Source: CBC News, February 16, 2019) CN Rail is working to clean up an oil leak after nearly 40 train cars carrying crude oil derailed near a village in western Manitoba early Saturday morning. No injuries or fires were reported. Full story: www.cbc.ca
Can freight railroad industry maintain momentum in 2019?
(Source: Zacks.com, February 18, 2019) NEW YORK — The railroad industry seems to be poised well not only in the near term but also in the long haul on the back of robust freight demand fueled by a buoyant U.S. economy. A strong U.S. economy supports the bullishness of...
Railroads look to PTC to shake out more capacity
(Source: Freight Waves, February 18, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — For the last 10 years, freight railroads and their regulators have emphasized the safety benefits of Positive Train Control (PTC). But with the technology getting closer to being up and running on every...
Norfolk Southern will shrink its workforce by 3,000 by 2021
(Source: Virginian-Pilot, February 16, 2019) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern has a plan to get leaner and it involves having 3,000 fewer workers by 2021. The company recently announced its plan to satisfy Wall Street by shrinking its operating ratio to 60 by 2021. The...
FRA publishes railroads 4Q 2018 PTC data
(Source: Federal Railroad Administration press release, February 15, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today released a status update regarding railroads’ self-reported progress toward full implementation of positive train control...
Man convicted in Chicago gun case tied to NS train theft
(Source: Associated Press, February 14, 2019) CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted a 36-year-old man who was linked to the theft of 27 handguns and six assault rifles from a train at a Norfolk Southern rail yard in Chicago. Full story: Daily Herald
BRS announces Elvey elected Vice President of NRAB
(Source: Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen press release, February 11, 2019) FORT ROYAL, Va. — On Monday, February 11, 2019, The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) held an election to fill the Vice President NRAB position. This position was recently vacated by...
Metra seeking $5 billion from state to modernize “oldest passenger fleet in the country”
(Source: Television station WGN, February 14, 2019) CHICAGO — Metra’s passenger cars are the oldest in the nation, and after 10 years without a capital funding bill, officials with the transit agency are hopeful this will be the year they get back up to speed. Full...
Amtrak, NJ Transit reach joint infrastructure spending deal
(Source: Progressive Railroading, February 14, 2019) Amtrak and New Jersey Transit officials yesterday announced they've reached a financial settlement that will pave the way for funding ongoing and future improvements to rail infrastructure into and out of New York...
Rail expansion through Port of Vancouver aimed at hiking imports from Asia
(Source: Canadian Press, February 14, 2019) VANCOUVER — The federal government, CN Rail and the body that oversees trade through Canada’s busiest port have signed an agreement allowing CN to twin part of an existing railway track to move more cargo and increase trade...
DOT-105 rail tank car safety the focus of 5 NTSB safety recommendations
(Source: National Transportation Safety Board press release, February 14, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Transportation Safety Board issued five safety recommendations Thursday following completion of its investigation of the Aug. 27, 2016, chlorine release...
BNSF bumps up spending on expansion projects this year as intermodal business grows
(Source: Freight Waves, February 14, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — BNSF plans to spend the largest amount since 2015 on expansion and efficiency projects, with the railroad’s major intermodal lanes seeing much of that investment. The largest Class 1 railroad by track...
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