Rail Industry News

(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, September 8, 2017) LOS ANGELES and SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Seven trailer trucks loaded with critically-needed supplies left California this morning on a mission of mercy for the victims of hurricane Harvey...

(Source: Associated Press, September 11, 2017) PHILADELPHIA — The engineer in a deadly Amtrak derailment is due in court for a preliminary hearing to determine if he’ll face trial on criminal charges that were filed only after a victim’s family intervened and a judge...

(Source: www.nj.com, September 12, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Transportation Security Administration has yet to strengthen security procedures at railroads a decade after legislation required such actions in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, according to two...

(Source: Reuters, September 11, 2017) NEW YORK — Norfolk Southern Corp said on Monday it was inspecting track for damages and removing fallen trees along rail lines leading to ports in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina due to the impact of the weakened Hurricane...

(Source: CBC News, September 6, 2017) CALGARY, Alberta — A Calgary engineer thinks an invention he stumbled upon in the laboratory could transform the way Alberta gets its heavy oil to market. Ian Gates was researching ways to upgrade bitumen when he and his team...

(Source: WTOP, September 8, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C. — If you’re an Amtrak regular between Washington and New York or Boston, you’ll be getting more comfy seats soon. Full story: www.wtop.com

(Source: Sacramento Bee opinion column by Dan Richard, September 7, 2017) SACRAMENTO, Calif. — All one needs to do is drive State Route 99 through the Central Valley to know that Shawn Steel’s editorial indicating that California’s high-speed rail project has “broken...

(Source: www.nj.com, September 9, 2017) TRENTON, N.J. — Already facing a federal investigation into abuses of family medical leave law, NJ Transit will soon face additional scrutiny by the Assembly Judiciary Committee, which has issued subpoenas to its executive...

(Source: Associated Press, September 8, 2017) TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Transit has filed a lawsuit against a former compliance officer who told lawmakers he was fired for raising safety and other concerns but who the agency says was actually fired for misusing a...

(Source: www.nj.com, September 7, 2017) NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit has been cited for violations by the Federal Railroad Administration for 15 violations found during an audit, including failing to have a plan in place to get a mandatory safety system running by Dec....

(Source: Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) press release, September 7, 2017) OTTAWA — The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), which represents the running trade employees at Canadian Pacific, has agreed to a tentative one year agreement with company,...

(Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, September 6, 2017) PHILADELPHIA — A budget proposal from state Republicans would be catastrophic for public transportation in Philadelphia and surrounding counties, SEPTA officials warned Wednesday. The proposal unveiled Tuesday by a...

(Source: Jacksonville Daily Record, September 11, 2017) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corp.’s year-to-date jobs cuts are up to 2,700, Chief Financial Officer Frank Lonegro said at an investor conference last week. Beyond the 2,700, the company also cut 1,000 contractors...

(Source: Railway Age, September 8, 2017) NEW YORK — As railroads in the Southeast brace for Hurricane Irma’s projected landfall Sept. 11on the east coast of Florida, BNSF Railway reports that its operations in southeastern Texas are back to normal, with residual...

(Source: Canadian Press, September 11, 2017) SHERBOOKE, Quebec — Jury selection is set to begin today in the trial of three men charged in the rail disaster that killed 47 people in Lac-Megantic, Que. Three ex-railway employees – train driver Thomas Harding, railway...

(Source: Washington Examiner, September 7, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senate Republicans introduced legislation Thursday that would radically reshape federal labor law by giving dissenting workers additional rights to reject or refuse unions. Full story: Washington...

(Source: Reuters, September 8, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Major eastern U.S. railroads CSX Corp and Norfolk Southern Corp are rerouting rail cars and locomotives, holding traffic in yards out of harm's way, relocating workers, and putting repair equipment into place as...

(Source: Federal Railroad Administration press release, September 8, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced the completion of the Tier II Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) under...

(Source: Roanoke Times, September 7, 2017) ROANOKE, Va. — Amtrak has begun selling tickets for train travel out of Roanoke. Passenger train service to and from Roanoke is scheduled to resume Oct. 31 after a nearly 40-year hiatus. Full story: Roanoke Times

(Source: Albany Times Union, September 7, 2017) RENSSELAER, N.Y. — Amtrak trains serving the Capital Region will get a fresh new look as part of a $16 million overhaul of 450 of the passenger railroad's oldest Amfleet cars. The work, which includes new seat cushions,...