Rail Industry News
A Canadian oil-sands town is on fire; 80,000 residents must evacuate
(Source: Washington Post, May 4, 2016) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The sky in Fort McMurray, Alberta, was gray with smoke. The ground beneath was glowing red with fire. Fort McMurray is home to the Athabasca Oil Sands, the largest single oil deposit in the world, containing an...
Crude by rail is running out of track as the economics behind it lose steam
(Source: Financial Post, May 4, 2016) OTTAWA — The crude-by-rail phenomenon that had led to the rapid build-up of new rail terminals in Western Canada is losing steam. Full story: Financial Post
Teamsters launch unfair labor practice strike against US Foods in Corona, Calif.
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, May 2, 2016) CORONA, Calif. — Yesterday, Teamsters who drive for US Foods in Corona began an unfair labor practice strike to protest allegations that the foodservice giant violated federal law that...
Rock slide closes NS tracks in southern W.Va.
(Source: Associated Press, May 2, 2016) BORDERLAND, W.Va. — Norfolk Southern says a rock slide has temporarily closed tracks in both directions in southern West Virginia. Full story: Daily Journal
Road work for midwest high-speed rail to start this month in Illinois
(Source: Bloomington Pantagraph, May 3, 2016) NORMAL, Ill. — A busy intersection near Illinois State University is expected to close for high-speed rail upgrades this month — the first of several in Bloomington-Normal to be renovated this year. Full story: Bloomington...
City of Houston wants to study feasibility high-speed rail line to Dallas
(Source: Houston Public Media, May 3, 2016) HOUSTON, Texas — The city of Houston is requesting applications from companies to conduct a feasibility study on the proposed high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas. Full story: Houston Public Media
For faster train travel, Amtrak wants to fix bottlenecks in Maryland
(Source: Baltimore Sun, May 2, 2016) BALTIMORE, Md. — As Amtrak trains whisk passengers hundreds of miles along the East Coast between Boston and Washington, they're forced to slow down at four pinch points in Maryland, where ancient railroad infrastructure can't...
CSX: Most cars that derailed in D.C. are back on track
(Source: Associated Press, May 2, 2016) WASHINGTON, D.C. — CSX says train cars that derailed in the nation’s capital over the weekend have largely been put back on the tracks, and workers on Monday finished offloading liquids from two of the cars. CSX said Monday...
In aftermath of derailment, D.C. officials turn focus to CSX and its cargo
(Source: Washington Post, May 2, 2016) WASHINGTON, D.C. — A day after a CSX train derailed in Northeast Washington, leaking hazardous substances along a busy rail corridor, local officials and activists turned their attention to the transportation company responsible,...
Constitution check: Is an old anti-New Deal precedent getting new life — again?
(Source: Constitution Daily, May 3, 2016) WASHINGTON, D.C. — A series of Supreme Court decisions in the 1930s, striking down much of President Franklin Roosevelt’s “New Deal” plan to pull America out of the Great Depression, brought on a constitutional crisis when...
Unions can’t be forgotten in fight for workers
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, May 2, 2016) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Workers across the U.S. united in pride and protest yesterday to stand up for workers’ rights and the labor movement as part of May Day celebrations. And there is reason for...
Former BLET General Chairman Bill Overton, 1942-2016
(Source: Holley-Gamble Funeral Home obituary, May 2, 2016) CLINTON, Tenn. — William (Bill) Monroe Overton, Jr., 73, passed peacefully on Saturday, April 30, 2016 with his family by his side. Bill was born August 18, 1942 to William and Lois Overton in Knoxville, TN,...
Most of the freight locomotives that Metrolink is leasing to improve safety are sitting idle
(Source: Los Angeles times, May 1, 2016) LOS ANGELES — After last year's fatal collision with a utility truck near Oxnard, the Metrolink commuter railroad faced a serious safety issue. The cab car at the front of the ill-fated train did not meet design standards — a...
Midwest high-speed rail spending to hit $1.2 billion
(Source: State Journal-Register, May 1, 2016) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Five construction seasons into track, bridge, crossing and other improvements toward 110-mph Amtrak service in Illinois, state and federal spending on the project is expected to pass the $1.2 billion...
Ottawa quietly paid $75 million settlement for Lac-Megantic victims and to avoid lawsuits
(Source: CBC News, May 2, 2016) MONTREAL — The federal government quietly spent $75 million to settle with victims and creditors affected by the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster — a contribution that also shielded it from lawsuits related to the deadly crash. Full story:...
Washington State Supreme Court will hear crude by rail case
(Source: The Daily World, April 28, 2016) ABERDEEN, Wash. — The Washington state Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case centered around proposed Grays Harbor crude-by-rail facilities, lawyers for the groups opposed to the facilities announced on Wednesday. Full...
CN struggled with track improvements after fiery oil train derailments
(Source: Reuters, May 2, 2016) NEW YORK — Canada's biggest railway struggled to keep some heavily used track in adequate repair even after a string of derailments last year showed the danger of moving oil on poorly maintained track, documents obtained by Reuters show....
U.S. court says Amtrak has too much power over freight carriers
(Source: Reuters, April 29, 2016) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak, the government-owned passenger rail company, wields too much power in setting regulations that private freight carriers must also follow, a top court ruled on Friday. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the...
Buffett defends Berkshire’s Coke stake, warns on BNSF
(Source: Reuters, May 2, 2016) OMAHA, Neb. — Warren Buffett on Saturday defended several of Berkshire Hathaway Inc’s larger or struggling investments, including Coca-Cola Co and the BNSF railroad. Full story: Taipei Times
Buffett says BNSF’s business down considerably and will remain depressed
(Source: CNBC, April 30, 2016) OMAHA, Neb. — Legendary investor Warren Buffett said Saturday that Berkshire Hathaway's railroad business has fallen drastically, and the pain is likely to continue. Buffett displayed a slide with preliminary first-quarter after tax...
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