Rail Industry News
FRA to railroads: Approval required for PTC system outages under certain conditions
A previous provision allowing them to just notify FRA of the disablement has expired.
CN says operational improvements will enable significant volume growth
During an investor day presentation on May 3, Canadian National touted its operational improvements over the past year and said its faster, more fluid network has created capacity that its marketing team can sell to propel profitable volume growth.
SEPTA, BLET fighting over pay, use of managers as engineers
The BLET has for years been trying to win higher wages for SEPTA Regional Rail engineers, which are the lowest on U.S. passenger railroad systems.
110 mph schedules coming for Amtrak Chicago-St. Louis corridor
Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) have received federal approval for maximum speeds up to 110 mph for most of the Chicago-St. Louis corridor, primarily between the Amtrak stations in Joliet and Alton.
STB requires BNSF, NS and UP to continue to provide detailed service progress reports
Federal regulators will require BNSF Railway, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific to continue to provide biweekly service progress reports through the end of the year.
NS blames COVID as its trains block crossings for hours or even days
Norfolk Southern said the railroads are still being affected by COVID-19 with labor shortages.
STB turns down Metra, BNSF requests to participate in conference on CPKC reporting of metrics
The STB has denied requests by Metra and BNSF to participate in an upcoming technical conference to determine details of metrics reported by Canadian Pacific Kansas City to the board, as required as part of the board decision approving the CP-KCS merger.
NS seeks regulatory approval for Cincinnati rail purchase
Norfolk Southern yesterday sought regulatory approval for its acquisition of the Cincinnati Southern Railway, the municipally owned railroad that forms the 338.2-mile Chattanooga-Cincinnati backbone of NS’s key corridor linking Chicago with Atlanta and the Southeast.
CN, UP and Ferromex tighten new Canada-Mexico intermodal schedules
Canadian National, Union Pacific, and Ferromex have significantly tightened the schedules for the new intermodal service they will launch on May 15 to link Canada and Detroit with Mexico.
BNSF tracks back in service after Wisconsin derailment
Railroad tracks damaged after a BNSF Railway freight train derailed in southwestern Wisconsin have been repaired and returned to service, rail and government officials say.
Landfill receives 2.5 million pounds of debris from BNSF derailment in Wisconsin
As cleanup from last week’s BNSF derailment near De Soto, Wis., continues, the La Crosse County landfill is processing some 2.5 million pounds of debris from the incident.
DOT ramps up data exchange program to boost U.S. supply chains
The U.S. Department of Transportation on Tuesday said it was ramping up a program to address supply chain issues by getting truckers, shippers, wholesalers, retailers and other businesses to share information.
Opinion: America is off track when it comes to train safety
For the sake of commerce, tourism and safe travel, America must get its railroads performing at a high level of quality and safety. We made a huge investment in this industry long ago. Let’s protect it.
NJ Transit, SEPTA, Metro-North at 40
Imagine going back 40 years to early 1983. The only passenger trains running along much of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor (NEC) were operated by Amtrak itself. Otherwise, what was (and still is) the nation’s busiest passenger railroad line stood empty and silent.
FRA launches new rail safety program
The new program will advance research and development efforts that seek to improve the safety, performance, and sustainability of freight, intercity passenger, and commuter rail.
CPKC has idled a number of grain cars in Western Canada
For the last three weeks CPKC has moved an average of 539,000 metric tons of grain per week, which is well below CPKC’s weekly target of 683,850 metric tons outlined in the Grain Service Outlook Report.
CPKC “ready to compete” as rivals plan U.S.-Mexico intermodal service
The head of the newly-formed Canadian Pacific Kansas City railroad isn’t concerned about rivals’ plans to start a competing intermodal service connecting the U.S. and Mexico, asserting CPKC will offer “a much superior service.”
NS trains causing headaches for residents and first responders in Western PA
People living on a property in Beaver County are finding themselves stranded multiple times a week. The reason is Norfolk Southern trains stop for hours.
Billionaire wants to kickstart U.S. high-speed rail with Vegas to L.A. bullet train
Billionaire investor and sports team owner Wes Edens wants to get you from Los Angeles to Vegas in about two hours. And he’s building a $12 billion, 186 MPH train line powered by renewable energy to do it.
FRA to Class Is: Be careful when building monster trains
A Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Safety Advisory, issued on April 27, stated that there had been at least three derailments on Class I railroads in recent months that were caused by long and heavy freight trains, ones that were at least 12,250 feet long and weighed over 17,000 trailing tons.
BLET News
Chicago: BLET reaches tentative agreement with CF&E
The BLET has reached a tentative contract with the Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern Railroad (CFE). Ballots were mailed this week to members to vote on a tentative on-property agreement governing rates of pay, benefits and work rules for approximately 45 operating...
The White House: Top BLET officers in Washington D.C.
From left: Kyle Bagby, Trustee; Vince Verna, VP & NLR; Pat Driscoll, Trustee; Billy Lyons, VP; Randy Fannon, VP; Gary Best, VP; Eddie Hall, National President; Mark Wallace, First VP; Dave Estes, National S-T; Rick Gibbons, VP; and Dick Crow, Trustee....
Have you registered? Join us for the BLET’s Eastern Regional meeting in Washington, D.C.
BLET members are encouraged to make their reservations soon for the Eastern Regional Meeting, which will be held the week of July 29 in Washington, D.C. Hotel room reservations must be made by July 1, 2024. The meeting will be held at the Capital Hilton, 1001 16th...
Jennifer Homendy is confirmed by U.S. Senate, will continue serving as Chair of NTSB
Chair Homendy at the BLET's 2023 Eastern Regional Meeting. ____________________ On May 14, the U.S. Senate unanimously voted to confirm Jennifer Homendy to another five-year term with the National Transportation Safety Board, including another three-year term as...
Robert E. Primus is new Chairman of Surface Transportation Board
At the 2023 BLET Western Regional Meeting, from left: Eddie Hall, BLET President; Robert Primus, STB; Mark Wallace, First VP; and Dave Estes, National S-T. ____________________ On May 11, President Biden named Robert Primus as the new Chairman of the Surface...
Rhode Island: State Senate unanimously passes two-person crew bill
On May 7, the Rhode Island State Senate unanimously advanced a rail safety bill by a vote of 37-0. The bill, 2024–S 2736, would require two-person train crews. BLET New England Legislative Board Chairman Dan Cadogan said lobbying efforts will now begin to secure...
Education & Training: General Chairman Workshop
This week, the BLET Education & Training Department hosted a hybrid training workshop for General Chairmen at the National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio. The class focused on the role and duties of a General Chairman, including topics such as...
Victory in Colorado! Governor signs BLET-backed rail safety bill
Colorado’s BLET-backed railroad safety bill, HB24-1030, was approved by the State Senate on May 8 and is on its way to the desk of Governor Jared Polis to be signed into law. He signed the bill on May 10. Paul Pearson, BLET Colorado State Legislative Board Chairman,...
Norfolk Southern: Shareholders make split decision in proxy battle fight
It was a split decision on May 9 as Norfolk Southern shareholders elected some board nominees from hedge fund Ancora Holdings to the railroad’s board of directors, but not enough to unseat current CEO Alan Shaw. The three BLET General Chairmen at Norfolk Southern —...
Freight railroads oppose shareholder resolutions creating safety committees
As publicly traded railroad corporations held their annual meetings this week, the BLET criticized railroad management for opposing safety reforms that would improve railroad operations for both workers and the communities that the railroads serve. “This week, CSX,...
