Rail Industry News
BNSF compensation memo sparks controversy
(Source: Sandpoint Reader, May 24, 2018) SANDPOINT, Idaho — Union leaders and conservation activists are protesting a leaked internal BNSF Railway memo offering compensation to employees who turned out at a Wednesday public meeting in support of the second Lake Pend...
Amtrak cuts cause concern about future of passenger rail in Cincinnati
(Source: The Enquirer, May 28, 2018) CINCINNATI, Ohio — The planned closure of Amtrak's ticket office at Union Terminal has caused more concern than you'd expect for an office with just two employees. Local leaders fear it could hurt Cincinnati's chances at better...
DHS announces anti-terrorism grant opportunities
(Source: Progressive Railroading, May 24, 2018) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this week announced the availability of $1.6 billion in grant funding for programs used to help prevent acts of terrorism. The grant programs provide funding to several...
Emails shed new light on Pruitt’s Nebraska trip
(Source: Lincoln Journal Star, May 27, 2018) LINCOLN, Neb. — Hours after Scott Pruitt met with state officials in a closed-door meeting at the Governor’s Mansion, the Environmental Protection Agency chief also met privately with railroad executives in Omaha, emails...
Opinion: Freight operators winning railroad battle with Amtrak
(Source: Connecticut Post opinion column by Jim Cameron, May 28, 2018) BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — We are all familiar with Amtrak’s local operations in the Northeast: The sleek Acela zooming along to Boston at up to 145 mph and the slower, traditional trains making local...
BNSF says it’s on track for PTC installation
(Source: Associated Press, May 28, 2018) MINNEAPOLIS — BNSF Railway is one of the first railroads to fully implement new safety technology that will be required by federal regulators by the end of the year, a company spokeswoman said. Full story: Wichita Eagle
CSX hires consultant to conduct safety assessment
(Source: Progressive Railroading, May 29, 2018) CSX Corp. has selected global consulting firm DEKRA Inc. to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the Class I's safety performance. Full story: Progressive Railroading
Via Rail cancels some services after TCRC gives strike notice
(Source: Canadian Press, May 28, 2018) MONTREAL — Via Rail Canada has cancelled some service in Northern Ontario because of a strike notice given to Canadian Pacific Railway by its unions. Full story: www.thestar.com
CP Rail winding down service as countdown to strike is on
(Source: Canadian Press, May 29, 2018) MONTREAL — The countdown to another Canadian railway strike is on. Canadian Pacific Railway workers are set to strike Tuesday night, potentially forcing the railroad to shut down its freight service and leaving commuters with the...
Unions issue strike notice, says CP Rail “refusing to negotiate seriously”
(Source: Canadian Press, May 26, 2018) LAVAL, Que. — The unions representing train operators and signaling workers at Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. have served the company with notice of a strike action. Full story: www.globlanews.ca
NTSB: Uber self-driving car failed to recognize pedestrian, did not brake
(Source: Reuters, May 24, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — An Uber Technologies Inc. self-driving vehicle that struck and killed a woman in Tempe, Arizona in March failed to identify the pedestrian or brake, raising serious questions about the performance of the vehicle, the...
CN to buy hundreds of grain cars as new transportation bill becomes law in Canada
(Source: Canadian Press, May 23, 2018) MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway is preparing to purchase hundreds of new grain hopper cars to get shipments moving after a bill that encourages railways to make investments to avert service disruptions became law Wednesday....
FRA plans June 4 webinar to discuss PTC grants
(Source: Railway Track and Structures, June 4, 2018) NEW YORK — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will host a webinar on June 4 aimed at helping those seeking funding for the recently announced positive train control (PTC) grants. Full story: Railway Track and...
Union Pacific chief hails GE-Wabtec railroad deal
(Source: The Loadstar, May 23, 2018) LONDON — Union Pacific’s chief executive, Lance Fritz, has praised an $11 billion deal that will see General Electric’s railroad business merge with Wabtec. Full story: The Loadstar
CN plans to ship crude in late 2018 at “very favorable pricing”
(Source: Reuters, May 23, 2018) MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway Co plans to use some additional capacity expected at the end of 2018 for its crude business, which it plans to “lock in for some time” at “very favorable pricing,” the company’s Chief Financial...
NTSB to hold investigative hearing on recent Amtrak crashes
(Source: National Transportation Safety Board press release, May 23, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Transportation Safety Board Wednesday announced a two-day investigative hearing on recent Amtrak crashes scheduled for July 10 and 11. The public hearing, to be...
Opinion: The folly of dismantling Amtrak’s national network
(Source: Railway Age opinion column by Lyndon Henry, May 23, 2018) NEW YORK — After 48 years of providing long-distance passenger train services, is Amtrak preparing to scuttle these operations and dismantle its National Network? That nightmare prospect, long desired...
Arbitration board applies pattern health care terms to BMWED, SMART-Mechanical
(Source: National Railway Labor Conference (NRLC) press release, May 23, 2018) ARLINGTON, Va. — An arbitration board has ruled that the pattern health care terms adopted by the freight railroads and nine of the other unions in national bargaining should apply to the...
TCRC locomotive engineers ratify new contract with CN
(Source: Canadian National press release, May 23, 2018) MONTREAL — CN announced today that the company’s 1,800 locomotive engineers in Canada have successfully ratified a new collective agreement. The five-year contract with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference...
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending May 19, 2018
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, May 23, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 19, 2018. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 546,415 carloads...
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