Rail Industry News
Outlook 2019: Class I CEOs predict rail traffic growth
(Source: Progressive Railroading, December 2018 issue) Good momentum. Optimism about the healthy economy. A very rosy outlook. Those are some ways the Class I chief executive officers are describing 2018’s mostly sunny business climate or their anticipation for a...
Hopes high for growing ridership at Schenectady rail station
(Source: Daily Gazette, December 10, 2018) SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Now that Schenectady has a new state-of-the-art railroad station whose architecture echoes the era of grand railroad stations, the question is whether it will bring more train passengers into the city....
Can Wichita get Amtrak service back?
(Source: Wichita Eagle, December 10, 2018) WICHITA, Kan. — Chime Onwugbufor lives in Wichita, works in Chicago and commutes on Amtrak. To get to his job at the tony Tortoise Supper Club, he catches the Amtrak throughway bus about 1 a.m. in Wichita, transfers to the...
NJ rail operator applies to lease Norfolk Southern freight lines in 4 counties
(Source: NorthJersey.com, December 8, 2018) BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — A New Jersey rail operator intends to lease Norfolk Southern’s local freight network in Essex, Passaic, Morris and Warren counties, according to a federal filing this week. If the Surface Transportation...
Are U.S. passenger trains really that bad? It’s complicated
(Source: CNET, December 9, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Compared to other wealthy nations, passenger trains in the US seem to lag far behind. Recently I covered Amtrak and CalTrans' unveil of a next-generation locomotive called the Charger, and the comments surrounding...
Two BNSF trains collide, derail in Belen, N.M.
(Source: Associated Press, December 9, 2018) BELEN, N.M. — TWO Burlington Northern Santa Fe locomotives have been involved in a train collision near the Belen Rail Runner Station in New Mexico. BNSF officials say two trains were derailed in Saturday's incident and it...
Crude by rail increase ‘manageable,’ analysts say, but farmers fearful of being pushed off tracks
(Source: Calgary Herald, December 7, 2018) CALGARY — Premier Rachel Notley pressed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau once again on Friday to provide support for her plan to purchase rail cars to increase the amount of oil being shipped out of Alberta. Full story: Calgary...
Schumer: MTA will not meet PTC deadline
(Source: CBS New York, December 9, 2018) NEW YORK — On Sunday, Sen. Chuck Schumer announced his office has learned that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will likely miss its deadline to install Positive Train Control (PTC). Full story: CBS New York
Union Pacific displays Bush funeral train in Omaha
(Source: Omaha World-Herald, December 10, 2018) OMAHA, Neb. — From around the bend came the sound of a train whistle and in response, there was a cheer from the hundreds waiting on the snowy ground in downtown Omaha. Union Pacific locomotive No. 4141, the engine that...
RRB: Medicare part B premiums for 2019
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, November 1, 2018) CHICAGO — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced that the standard monthly Part B premium will be $135.50 in 2019, a slight increase from $134.00 in 2018. However, some Medicare...
Amtrak call center relocation negotiations off to slow start, union says
(Source: Press-Enterprise, December 6, 2018) RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Talks between Amtrak officials and union leaders over the planned closure of the railroad’s Riverside reservation center are in their early stages, and the two sides remain far apart, a union leader...
Operation Lifesaver welcomes new education manager
(Source: Operation Lifesaver press release, December 6, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) welcomes Ericka Thomas as the Manager of Education, Training and Instructional Design for the national rail safety education organization. In this role,...
Virginia, Norfolk may seek up to $4 million refund as NS move advances
(Source: Daily Press, December 6, 2018) NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corp.'s plans to move its headquarters to Atlanta continue to solidify. So much so that Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms thanked the railroad with a "welcome to Atlanta" on Tuesday. Full story:...
Canada’s Prime Minister open to rail tanker purchase, more generous rules to help struggling energy sector
(Source: CBC News, December 6, 2018) OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is willing to consider helping Alberta Premier Rachel Notley fund the purchase of rail cars to increase the volume of oil her province can ship to international markets. Full story:...
AAR urges USDOT on ‘mode-neutral’ guidelines for automation
(Source: Railway Age, December 5, 2018) NEW YORK — The trade association of U.S. freight railroads this week urged the federal government to take a balanced approach to automation as a way to a safer, more efficient and more productive industry in the coming years....
College athlete from Connecticut honored for stopping breakaway Amtrak cars
(Source: Associated Press, December 6, 2018) ALBANY, N.Y. — quick-thinking college athlete has been honored for stopping an Amtrak train that had two passenger cars detach after leaving an Albany-area station last month. Full story: Hartford Courant
UP worker sues for injuries after Railcrew Xpress driver falls asleep at the wheel, crashes
(Source: Southeast Texas Record, December 6, 2018) HOUSTON — A railroad worker alleges he was injured when a transportation service driver fell asleep at the wheel and crashed the vehicle into a fence. Trevor Wright filed a complaint on Nov. 12 in the Harris County...
AAR reports rail traffic for November and week ending December 1, 2018
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, December 5, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending December 1, 2018, as well as volumes for November 2018. U.S. railroads...
Video: Watch as UP 4141 arrives in College Station carrying President George H.W. Bush
(Source: The Eagle, December 6, 2018) COLLEGE STATION, Texas — On a rainy Thursday afternoon, Union Pacific 4141 pulled into College Station to bring former President George H.W. Bush to his final home at his presidential library on the campus of Texas A&M. Full story...
BLET member June Nobles, a Navy veteran, worked as locomotive engineer of the Bush funeral train
(Source: ABC News, December 6, 2018. BLET Editor’s Note: June Nobles is a member of BLET Division 139 in Houston, Texas.) HOUSTON, Texas — Arrangements for his presidential funeral train took years of complicated planning, but one detail worked out just the way...
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