Rail Industry News
California high-speed rail’s Central Valley segment is not stranded
(Source: Streetsblog San Francisco, February 14, 2019) SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — With all the confusion around HSR, and the endless repetition of the tiresome and fallacious “train to nowhere” meme, it’s probably a good idea to reiterate that the high-speed train...
Single mom with breast cancer speaks about struggles after being laid off by Union Pacific
(Source: Television station KETV, February 14, 2019) OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific laid off 150 workers at its Omaha headquarters Tuesday. JoAnna Draper puts a face and story to those employees, sharing her struggles and fears after being terminated. Perhaps the most...
NJ Transit claims “legal precedent” shields it from federal safety lawsuits; Unions seek to set the record straight
(Source: www.njtvonline.org, February 14, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit fired 20-year veteran conductor Jerome Johnson — he claims — because Johnson kept reporting railroad safety problems to the feds. But he can’t sue NJ Transit under the federal law that’s...
Many companies, including Union Pacific, get waivers for steel tariffs amid tough trade talk
(Source: Associated Press, February 15, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite President Donald Trump’s tough talk on trade, his administration has granted hundreds of companies permission to import millions of tons of steel made in China, Japan and other countries without...
DOT issues final rule requiring railroads to develop oil spill response plans
(Source: Reuters, February 15, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Transportation Department on Thursday issued final rules requiring railroads to develop oil spill response plans and to disclose details of shipments to states and tribal governments after a series of...
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending Feb. 9, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, February 13, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending February 9, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 519,779...
Virgin Trains USA scuttles IPO
(Source: Railway Age, February 13, 2019) NEW YORK — Miami-based Virgin Trains USA LLC, previously known as Brightline before it rebranded itself following a 2018 partnership forged with Virgin Enterprises Ltd. and founder Richard Branson, has canceled issuing the IPO...
Penn Station commuters to get relief from crammed concourse as NJ Transit, Amtrak announce expansion
(Source: www.nj.com, February 13, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey commuters used to being jammed into a waiting area they’ve nicknamed “the pit” in New York’s Penn Station will get some much-needed breathing room. Gov. Phil Murphy joined Amtrak and NJ Transit...
Court OKs Amtrak conductor’s suit alleging 18 years of bias
(Source: HR Dive, February 13, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak must face some of the bias claims brought by a former conductor who alleged that she was subjected to misconduct for about 18 years, a federal district court judge determined (Garner v. National Railway...
Opinion: America without Greyhound, and no replacement passenger trains
(Source: Railway Age opinion column by David Peter Alan, February 14, 2019) NEW YORK — We are not usually concerned with buses at Railway Age, but what would happen if Greyhound buses suddenly disappeared from American roads, and Amtrak became the only provider of...
BNSF announces plan for 2019 capital investments
(Source: BNSF press release, February 13, 2019) FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) today announced its 2019 capital investment plan of $3.57 billion. The emphasis of this year’s capital plan continues to be on maintaining and expanding its network with an...
High-speed rail could still be a reality in California and elsewhere in U.S.
(Source: USA Today, February 14, 2019) LOS ANGELES — California could still bring the nation's first high-speed rail train to reality, proponents say – even if the size falls short of the original grand plans – and that could encourage other states to follow suit....
Workers claim retaliation as XPO, Verizon announce closure of facility in Memphis
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, February 13, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — XPO workers denounced today’s announcement by XPO Logistics, Inc. that it will be closing its Verizon-contracted Memphis facility beginning April 15, 2019. With this...
New York performed 20 counter-terrorism exercises along rail lines in 2018
(Source: Progressive Railroading, February 13, 2019) New York's counter-terrorism effort known as Operation NY-SECURE completed 20 exercises last year at rail stations statewide, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced yesterday. Full story: Progressive Railroading
Report: Fatal CP Rail derailment in Field, B.C., “eerily similar” to Lac-Megantic disaster
(Source: DeSmog Blog, February 12, 2019) NEW YORK — The only way to have a rail accident that is “eerily similar” to the Lac-Mégantic oil train disaster that killed 47 people and wiped out the small Quebec downtown is if a massive regulatory failure did not address...
NJ Transit settles $182 million back-payment debt with Amtrak
(Source: Associated Press, February 13, 2019) NEW YORK — New Jersey Transit paid $182 million to Amtrak to make good on missed payments for use of the Northeast Corridor line, state officials said Wednesday. Full story: News & Observer
Operation Lifesaver announces 2019 Rail Safety Week
(Source: Operation Lifesaver press release, February 13, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans and Canadians will observe Rail Safety Week together again this fall. Operation Lifesaver, Inc.(OLI) and Operation Lifesaver Canada are working to plan the observance of Rail...
Amid regulatory scrutiny, CSX leads nation in revenue from fees
(Source: Jacksonville Business Journal, February 13, 2019) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Surface Transportation Board, a federal regulator, is reviewing the revenue major railroads across the country collect from fees. Full story: Jacksonville Business Journal
BNSF VP says Galesburg is poised for growth
(Source: Register-Mail, February 12, 2019) GALESBURG, Ill. — A BNSF official said Logistics Park Galesburg is ripe for development Tuesday morning. Full story: Register-Mail
Trial tied to theft of guns from Chicago train begins
(Source: Associated Press, February 12, 2019) CHICAGO — A trial linked to the theft of 27 handguns and six assault rifles from a train at a Norfolk Southern rail yard in Chicago has started in federal court. Full story: CBS Chicago
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