Rail Industry News

(Source: Los Angeles Times, September 28, 2017) LOS ANGELES — The Supreme Court is poised to deal a sharp blow to the unions that represent millions of teachers and other public employees, announcing Thursday it will consider striking down the mandatory fees that...

(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, September 27, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending September 23, 2017, which set a new record for intermodal traffic in both...

(Source: Tri-City Herald, September 27, 2017) PASCO, Wash. — Ten to 15 times a week, a train carrying 3.5 million gallons of oil rolls within feet of the Columbia River. Full story: Tri-City Herald

(Source: Southside Daily, September 27, 2017) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corp. has illegally discriminated against workers and job applicants around the country, including Norfolk, for almost a decade, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday by the U.S. Equal...

(Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, September 27, 2017) PHILADELPHIA — Panic over a false rumor of a fire inside a stalled SEPTA train in Center City on Wednesday evening caused passengers to flee the train onto the tracks, resulting in a massive snarl for commuter rail...

(Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 27, 2017) PITTSBURGH, Pa. — At least 15 cars carrying coal derailed from a CSX train near the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Market Street in McKeesport, near the municipal building, about 12:30 Wednesday afternoon. Full...

(Source: Midwest Energy News, September 27, 2017) CHICAGO — Recent years have seen massive standoffs over oil pipeline construction and smaller but persistent protests against the transport of oil by train, or what opponents call “bomb trains.” Full story: Midwest...

(Source: Progressive Railroading, September 26, 2017) Although the number of people injured or killed in vehicle-train collisions is on the decline, the number of pedestrian deaths and injuries in rail-trespass incidents is on the rise, Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI)...

(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, September 27, 2017) OTTAWA — The following is a joint statement from Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa and Teamsters Canada President François Laporte in response to the end of round three of NAFTA...

(Source: DeSmog Blog, September 27, 2017) NEW YORK — Ronald Batory — President Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) — will be pushing for the controversial self-regulatory approach to safety known as “performance-based regulations,”...

(Source: Associated Press, September 28, 2017) NEWARK, N.J. — Democratic Senators from New York and New Jersey are introducing legislation Thursday to force federal transportation officials to implement a rule to test train engineers for sleep apnea. Full story: ABC...

(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, September 26, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The third and final day of the 2017, Teamsters Women's Conference wrapped up on Tuesday, in San Antonio, Texas with emotional and moving speeches on gender inequality...

(Source: Reuters, September 26, 2017) MUNICH/PARIS — German industrial group Siemens AG and French rival Alstom SA agreed to merge their rail operations, creating a European champion to better withstand the international advance of China’s state-owned CRRC Corp Ltd....

(Source: Norfolk Southern press release, September 26, 2017) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corporation today announced that its board of directors has authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 50 million shares of its common stock through Dec. 31, 2022. In...

(Source: Progressive Railroading, September 26, 2017) Amtrak has begun a $22 million project to restore and repair the Great Hall at Chicago's Union Station, the railroad announced yesterday. Full story: Progressive Railroading

(Source: Railway Age, September 26, 2017) NEW YORK — Track projects this summer in northern Idaho are expanding capacity on a busy segment of BNSF’s Northern Corridor, and upgrading conditions on Union Pacific’s route to the Canadian border. Full story: Railway...

(Source: Lexology, September 26, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has moved an ambitious rail infrastructure project a major step forward by approving a Tier II Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Washington, D.C. to...

(Source: Houston Chronicle, September 26, 2017) HOUSTON — Even though it's more expensive, carrying oil on rail lines rather than on pipelines has some advantages that could keep pipeline investments smaller in the future, according to a new study by two professors at...

(Source: Associated Press/Tri-City Herald, September 26, 2017) PASCO, Wash. — A company that wants to build and operate a large terminal to export coal from the western U.S. to Asia by way of Pasco was denied a key permit by Washington state on Tuesday because of...

(Source: Politico, September 26, 2017) TRENTON, N.J. — A lack of funding for a small but important piece of the Gateway tunnel is complicating construction of one of the largest real estate projects in the nation, prompting public officials to turn to the private...