Rail Industry News
DOT’s Chao calls on agencies, railroads to improve grade crossing safety
(Source: Progressive Railroading, November 6, 2018) At the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Grade Crossing Safety Summit held last week in Washington, D.C., U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao credited the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and...
BNSF Railway vs. Loos: Will a railroad worker be required to pay taxes on compensation for injury time?
(Source: Subscript Law, November 5, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Michael Loos was a brakeman and conductor for BNSF Railway Company. In 2010, he fell on a snow-covered drainage grate in a BNSF train yard and twisted his knee, causing him to miss work. He sued BNSF for...
BNSF posts higher revenue, expenses in Q3 2018
(Source: Progressive Railroading, November 6, 2018) BNSF Railway Co. reported third-quarter revenue rose 16 percent to $6.1 billion from $5.3 billion, while operating income increased 9 percent to $2.1 billion from $1.9 billion in the same quarter a year ago. The...
CSX Santa Train to travel through Appalachia this month
(Source: Progressive Railroading, November 5, 2018) CSX will operate its 76th annual Santa Train on Nov. 17, as part of the Class I's efforts to deliver toys, food, winter clothing and other gifts to residents in need along the 110-mile route. Full story: Progressive...
Capitol Corridor nears PTC completion
(Source: Railway Age, November 2, 2018) NEW YORK — The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), with operating partners Amtrak and Union Pacific, has completed installation and testing of Positive Train Control (PTC) along the 170-mile San Jose-Auburn Capitol...
Opinion: Amtrak service failing in Connecticut
(Source: Connecticut Post opinion column by Jim Cameron, November 5, 2018) BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Amtrak is responsible for running commuter trains, including two lines in Connecticut. And here they have been failing spectacularly. Full story: Connecticut Post
What if Shasta blows its top?
(Source: Railway Age, November 5, 2018) NEW YORK — To an industry that routinely faces the aftermath of flooding, mudslides, avalanches, hurricanes and even earthquakes, the concept of service disruption due to an erupting volcano seems almost unthinkable. But...
Can feds fix ongoing BNSF Line woes? Congressman calls for intervention
(Source: Daily Herald, November 5, 2018) CHICAGO — Are sweltering rail cars and teeth-gnashingly delay-prone trains a federal concern? Suburban congressman Dan Lipinski thinks so. Last month was apparently the breaking point for the Western Springs Democrat, who wants...
Introduction to precision railroading, part 3: Where do we go from here?
(Source: Freight Waves, November 5, 2018) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Last week we began exploration of the definition of precision railroading and how the industry is attempting to apply it. It is encouraging to see longstanding practices and processes being questioned. An...
NJ Senators ask Coast Guard to stop using Portal Bridge during rush hour
(Source: www.nj.com, November 3, 2018) NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey's U.S. Senators and Gov. Phil Murphy asked the Coast Guard to stop opening the Portal Bridge during rush hour in an effort to provide much-needed relief to train commuters. Full story: www.nj.com
A gurgling mud pool is creeping across Southern California, threatening infrastructure
(Source: Live Science, November 2, 2018) LOS ANGELES — A mysterious, bubbling mud geyser is on the move in Southern California, flitting dangerously close to railroad tracks, Highway 111 and some very expensive optic cables, like a geologic poltergeist, according to...
Union Pacific just broke revenue records, so why is it laying off workers?
(Source: Casper Star Tribune, November 5, 2018) CASPER, Wyo. — Loads of grain trundled down toward Mexico as summer ended, and strong crude prices drove up the number of rail cars hauling petroleum or liquefied gas by 40 percent. But Union Pacific ended a record third...
NTSB issues preliminary report in rear-end collision between UP freight trains in Granite Canyon, Wyo.
(Source: National Transportation Safety Board press release, November 5, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — On October 4, 2018, at 7:38 p.m. mountain daylight time, an eastbound Union Pacific (UP) freight train MGRCY04 (striking train) collided with the rear of a stationary UP...
BHP suspends Western Australia rail operations after runaway train incident involving single person crew
(Source: Reuters, November 5, 2018) BHP Billiton said it had suspended all its iron ore rail operations in Western Australia on Monday after a train ran away at high speed for nearly 100 kilometres before being forcibly derailed. Full story: www.yenisafak.com
Report: Norfolk Southern CEO sets Monday deadline for Atlanta to OK development deal
(Source: Virginian-Pilot, October 31, 2018) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corp. has given the Atlanta City Council an apparent ultimatum with a Monday deadline: Approve the development deal that would allow us to move our headquarters to your city or the deal's off....
Canadian oil producer Cenovus eyes option for expansion of crude by rail deals
(Source: Reuters, October 31, 2018) CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian oil producer Cenovus Energy Inc. is considering further expansion of its agreements to move crude by rail on Canada’s two major railways, its chief executive said on Wednesday. Full story: Reuters
Metra starts PTC service demos on Rock Island line
(Source: Progressive Railroading, October 31, 2018) Metra recently launched revenue service demonstrations (RSDs) of its positive train control (PTC) system on the Rock Island District Line, which runs southwest from Chicago to Joliet, Illinois. Full story:...
Understanding the Portal Bridge, NJ Transit’s Achilles’ Heel
(Source: www.nj.com, November 1, 2018) NEWARK, N.J. — Amtrak owns the Portal Bridge. NJ Transit pays rent to Amtrak to use the Northeast Corridor, which includes the bridge. Portal Bridge is one of five bridges on the Northeast Corridor that are over 100-years old and...
Canada’s TSB concerned about ‘pervasive’ employee fatigue
(Source: Canadian Press, October 29, 2018) OTTAWA — Fatigue is prevalent in rail, marine and air transportation, the Transportation Safety Board reported on Monday, and it called for "profound change" including to views held by management and workers. The federal...
Election Day offers workers a chance to turn the tide
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, October 31, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Next Tuesday (or maybe even right now depending on where you live), workers have an opportunity to take back their government from the corporate elite and ensure that...
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