Rail Industry News
Court of Appeals upholds $1.25 million whistleblower verdict against BNSF
(Source: Associated Press, March 5, 2018) SEATTLE — A panel of judges from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a $1.25 million verdict awarded in 2015 to a railroad whistleblower who claimed he was retaliated against and fired for reporting safety violations...
Amtrak chief says efforts underway to preserve Vermont train
(Source: Associated Press, March 3, 2018) MONTPELIER, Vt. — The head of the Amtrak passenger rail service says efforts are underway to help ensure the service on the Vermonter train will continue. Full story: New Haven Register
Amtrak awarded five-year contract for MARC Penn Line
(Source: Progressive Railroading, March 2, 2018) The Maryland Department of Transportation's Maryland Transit Administration(MDOT MTA) has awarded Amtrak a five-year contract to continue providing train operations services for the Maryland Area Regional Commuter...
Wash. Dept. of Ecology approves state’s first oil spill response plan for railroad
(Source: Television station KEPR, March 2, 2018) PASCO, Wash. — The Washington State Department of Ecology approved the first oil spill response plan from a railroad company this week. Full story: www.keprtv.com
Four empty CSX train cars fall into Susquehanna River amid wind storm
(Source: Baltimore Sun, March 4, 2018) BALTIMORE — CSX train derailed on a bridge over the Susquehanna River on Friday night, causing four empty rail cars to fall into the water below. Officials said the cause of the derailment remains under investigation, and could...
UP CEO calls steel and aluminum tariffs ‘troubling in a number of ways’
(Source: New Orleans Advocate, March 2, 2018) NEW ORLEANS — The Trump administration's plan to levy tariffs on steel and aluminum imports is "troubling in a number of ways" and almost certainly would send ripples through Louisiana's economy, the head of Union Pacific...
How Trump’s Hudson Tunnel snit threatens the national economy
(Source: Bloomberg, March 5, 2018) NEW YORK — Economic risks keeping Americans up at night include the hastily rewritten tax code and the possibility of a global trade war set off by U.S. tariffs. Consider another cause for insomnia: President Donald Trump’s...
Why the storm stopped SEPTA in its tracks
(Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, March 3, 2018) PHILADELPHIA — SEPTA had prepared for Friday’s storm but not for how fast it intensified, consequently resulting in thousands of commuters being stranded for hours in their attempts to get home, an apologetic general...
Amtrak returns to normal schedule between Boston, D.C., after snow storm
(Source: Albany Times Union, March 4, 2018) RENSSELAER, N.Y. — Amtrak train service between Boston and Washington, D.C., will return to its normal operating schedule on Monday. Service was suspended and/or delayed since Friday's snow storm. Full story: Albany Times...
Federal tax cut windfall doesn’t mean immediate hiring, UP CEO says
(Source: Omaha World-Herald, March 3, 2018) OMAHA, Neb. —While the Union Pacific benefited from the recent changes to federal tax law, Chief Executive Lance Fritz said that alone won’t push him to add jobs now. Full story: Omaha World-Herald
Trump said to tell republicans not to approve Hudson rail tunnel funds
(Source: Bloomberg, March 3, 2018) NEW YORK — Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer urged Donald Trump not to play politics with a commuter railroad tunnel under the Hudson River that’s regarded as critical for the Northeast economy, after the president told...
CN Rail CEO steps down after less than two years; Board sees need to ‘energize’ company
(Source: Bloomberg, March 5, 2018) NEW YORK — Canadian National Railway Co. announced the abrupt departure of Chief Executive Officer Luc Jobin, less than two years after he took over, as the longtime standard for railroad efficiency struggled to keep pace with a...
Opinion: Freight rail, intermodal deliver for KC regional economy
(Source: Kansas City Star opinion column by Chris Gutierrez, February 28, 2018) KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Infrastructure is front and center right now with President Donald Trump unveiling his long-awaited $1.5 trillion plan to fix the nation’s roads, bridges, airports,...
Metro-North ready to begin three-year track project
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, February 28, 2018) NEW YORK — Metro-North Railroad will launch an extensive three-year project to transform its White Plains station. The railroad said this work will improve the station's safety, appearance, cleanliness and...
Officials back off statement that CSX Rocky Mount terminal plans are dead
(Source: Rocky Mount Telegram, March 2, 2018) ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Carolinas Gateway Partnership officials are backing off a statement made last week that the CSX trains-to-trucks terminal planned for Rocky Mount is kaput. Full story: Rocky Mount Telegram
BNSF plans to add 3rd set of tracks on part of New Mexico main line
(Source: Associated Press, March 2, 2018) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — BNSF Railway's capital expenditure plan for 2018 includes building a third set of tracks on 10 miles of its southern main line in New Mexico. Full story: www.usnews.com
CSX would pass on cost of higher steel tariffs to customers, CEO says
(Source: CNBC, March 1, 2018) NEW YORK — CSX railroad customers would likely bear the burden of an increased steel tariff, said Chief Executive Officer and President Jim Foote. Earlier Thursday, President Donald Trump signaled heavy tariffs on foreign steel and...
CSX to complete dispatch move from Selkirk by month’s end
(Source: Albany Times Union, March 1, 2018) SELKIRK, N.Y. — A planned consolidation of CSX Transportation's train dispatching operations, which includes moving a location employing 45 people at the Selkirk rail yard in Albany County, will be completed by the end of...
If NJ Transit misses PTC deadline, could Amtrak save the day?
(Source: Bergen Record, March 1, 2018) BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — Amtrak could save the day for New Jersey commuters if NJ Transit is barred from operating on the tracks to New York Penn Station because a critical safety system hasn't been installed. Full story:...
7 to 19 commuter railroads could miss PTC deadline, and travelers could pay the price
(Source: USA Today, March 1, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Up to two-thirds of 29 commuter railroads nationwide will miss a Dec. 31 deadline for adopting automatic braking technology for their trains, a government watchdog said Thursday — and service could be disrupted for...
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