Rail Industry News
Alberta’s Notley says she’s heard nothing from Ottawa on moving oil by rail
(Source: Calgary Herald, January 14, 2019) CALGARY — Premier Rachel Notley urged the federal government “to step up” and help Alberta’s energy industry get its product to market during a news conference in Calgary on Monday. Full story: Calgary Herald
Amtrak to introduce new Acela high-speed trains in 2021
(Source: Railway Technology, January 15, 2019) NEW YORK — US-based passenger railroad service Amtrak is planning to introduce Acela high-speed trains to the north-east corridor in 2021. The company is buying 28 Acela train sets using a $2.45bn federal loan, reported...
Canadian Transportation Agency to investigate possible freight rail problems in Vancouver
(Source: Canadian Press, January 14, 2019) GATINEAU, Que. — The Canadian Transportation Agency will investigate possible problems with freight train service issues in the Vancouver area including whether rail companies are fulfilling their obligations. The agency said...
Intermodal rail taking growing share of containers out of NY-NJ Ports
(Source: Freight Waves, January 14, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Intermodal rail is taking a growing share of container traffic coming out of the largest U.S. East Coast port as more heavy freight moves across the docks and trucking costs rise. Even so, some shippers...
St. Louis-Chicago high-speed rail project falls behind targets
(Source: Illinois News Network, January 14, 2019) SPRINGFIELD — Amtrak riders are still waiting for higher train speeds along the Chicago-to-St. Louis route. Full story: www.thetelegraph.com
Residents return to town after NS chemical train crash in Bartow, Georgia
(Source: Epoch Times, January 14, 2019) BARTOW, Ga. — Residents of Bartow, Georgia, are returning to their homes, which they fled after a train derailment released toxic chemicals. Some 500 homes had to be evacuated after a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed near...
Former counsel of the STB wonders about its future mission
(Source: Freight Waves, January 14, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — With precision railroading looming as the dominant operating strategy in the North American rail sector, and with coal markets facing enormous competition from natural gas and renewables, Raymond Atkins —...
Congress names transportation committee leaders
(Source: Progressive Railroading, January 14, 2019) The U.S. House and Senate have established their committee and subcommittee leadership for the 116th Congress, including those related to transportation. Full story: Progressive Railroading
Railroad Retirement and unemployment insurance taxes in 2019
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, December 6, 2018) CHICAGO — The amounts of compensation subject to railroad retirement tier I and tier II payroll taxes will increase in 2019, while the tax rates on employers and employees will stay the same. In...
UP agrees to improve hazmat handling in San Bernardino County
(Source: San Bernardino Sun, January 11, 2019) SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Union Pacific railroad and district attorneys in San Bernardino and three other counties have reached a settlement in a lawsuit in which the freight carrier will pay $2.3 million and make changes...
Teamsters reach tentative agreement for Southwest Airlines material specialists
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, January 11, 2019) DALLAS — The Teamsters have reached a tentative agreement with Southwest Airlines on behalf of members who work as material specialists for the commercial carrier. The nearly 300 material...
Norfolk Southern claims Salvation Army building encroaches on right of way
(Source: Bristol Herald Courier, January 11, 2019) BRISTOL, Tenn. — Based on right of way established by two 150-year-old land deeds, Norfolk Southern has informed the Salvation Army of Bristol that its downtown building is encroaching on the railroad’s land. Full...
Missouri Senate Republican leader casts doubt on revival of right-to-work this year
(Source: Kansas City Star, January 9, 2019) JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Senate President Dave Schatz said Wednesday it’s unlikely that right-to-work proposals will gain traction in the Missouri Senate this year. Full story: Kansas City Star
APTA: Transit ridership fell, commuter rail ridership rose in Q3 2018
(Source: Progressive Railroading, January 11, 2019) Americans took 2.5 billion trips on public transportation systems in third-quarter 2018, down 1.75 percent compared with ridership in third-quarter 2018, according to the American Public Transportation Association...
Amtrak works to modernize, speed up trains in busiest U.S. rail corridor
(Source: Reuters, January 11, 2019) AOBARD AMTRAK TRAIN 182 — Amtrak is gearing up to introduce new high-speed Acela trains as it plans to spend billions of dollars in upgrades on the busiest U.S. rail corridor. Full story: Reuters
Former BNSF worker awarded $1.63 million over falling rack, beating $50K settlement offer
(Source: Courtroom View Network, January 11, 2019) SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — A California state court jury hit BNSF Railway Co. with a $1.63 million verdict on Thursday in a lawsuit filed by a former maintenance worker who suffered injuries after an 83-pound rail rack...
Train that derailed in Georgetown was unsafe, say 2 employees sued, blamed by Norfolk Southern
(Source: Lexington Herald Leader, January 11, 2019) LEXINGTON, Ky. — The engineer and conductor of a train that derailed in Georgetown last year say Norfolk Southern Railway knew a locomotive “was not in proper condition” before the crash with another train. Full...
Cuomo’s L train engineers to visit Amtrak’s East River tunnel
(Source: New York Daily News, January 10, 2019) NEW YORK — Gov. Cuomo’s L train engineering dream team will join Amtrak officials Friday on an inspection of its East River tunnels, officials said. Amtrak officials want to see if the repair plan Gov. Cuomo says is good...
Teamsters: Neal bill offers opportunity to honor pension promise
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, January 10, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The struggle to ensure the retirements of millions of hardworking Americans continues. But the reintroduction of essential legislation by a long-time pension protector...
FRA approves MBTA’s PTC deadline extension to 2020
(Source: Mass Transit Magazine, January 9, 2019) NEW YORK — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced at its Fiscal and Management Control Board meeting that it received federal approval for its alternative schedule and sequence for implementation of...
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