Rail Industry News
AAR: Weekly rail traffic down 9.8 percent from 2014 for week ending December 26
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, December 30, 2015) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Dec. 26, 2015. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 391,107...
New method for making oil safe for rail shipping to be tested
(Source: Grand Forks Herald, December 27, 2015) BISMARCK, N.D. — An alternative method for reducing the volatility of Bakken crude will be tested next year as state regulators report a “significant increase” in noncompliance with oil conditioning this winter Full...
38 conductors furloughed as NS cuts staffing
(Source: Roanoke Times, January 4, 2016) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corp. said Monday it laid off 38 conductors and suspended training for seven conductor trainees during the past three weeks in response to declining coal shipments. Full story: Roanoke Times
Norfolk Southern customers lobby STB against CP Rail takeover bid
(Source: Reuters, January 4, 2015) CHICAGO — Industry groups representing major freight customers of Norfolk Southern Corp. have asked the U.S. rail regulator to reject any bid for the railroad by Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd., according to letters viewed by Reuters....
Railroad line has long history of serving Arizona mines
(Source: Arizona Daily Star, January 3, 2016) TUCSON, Ariz. — The Arizona Eastern Railroad has a long tradition of serving Arizona’s mining and agricultural community. Full story: Arizona Daily Star
UP could move 1 million gallons of oil a week through Washington’s Lewis, Thurston counties
(Source: The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington), January 1, 2016) CENTRALIA, Wash. — Trains operating on Union Pacific Railroad lines through Lewis and Thurston counties could be carrying 1 million gallons of Bakken crude oil weekly, according to a notification issued...
STB solicits opinions for ‘on-time’ passenger train performance, preference issues
(Source: Progressive Railroading, December 29, 2015) The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is seeking public comment on two decisions it issued yesterday involving passenger train on-time performance and preference issues. Full story: Progressive Railroading
Strike ends as Chicago Teamsters reach tentative agreement with Coca-Cola
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, December 29, 2015) CHICAGO — Teamsters Local 727 ended its unfair labor practice strike against Coca-Cola Refreshments late on Tuesday, Dec. 29, after reaching tentative agreement on a fair three-year...
Blumenthal: ‘A major step forward for rail safety’
(Source: Stamford Advocate opinion column by Senator Richard Blumenthal, January 1, 2016) STAMFORD, Conn. — Last month, Congress passed the FAST Act, the first major, long-term transportation bill in a decade, providing $3.5 billion for Connecticut’s roads and rails...
Minnesota rail inspector aims to prevent accidents
(Source: Minnesota Public Radio, December 31, 2015) BUFFALO, Minn. — Rich McCumber drives a truck onto a rail crossing and lowers the small steel wheels onto the rails. Then it’s off down the track at about 20 miles per hour, his eyes straight ahead as he talks. Full...
Amtrak’s St. Louis-Kansas City service resumes after floods
(Source: Associated Press, January 3, 2016) ST. LOUIS — Amtrak service between St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, is operating again, now that floodwaters have subsided. Full story: ABC News
Rail industry may be given until 2020 to install PTC
(Source: New York Times, December 30, 2015) NEW YORK — When Congress in October gave railroads extra time to install a badly needed speed-control system, officials at the Federal Railroad Administration vowed to move aggressively to make sure the safety technology...
Two years later, still no final report on Casselton oil train crash
(Source: Inforum, December 29, 2015) CASSELTON, N.D. — Two years after a fiery oil train derailment here, federal investigators still have not released their final report on what caused it Full story: www.inforum.com
Top oil train stories from 2015
(Source: PublicSource, December 31, 2015) PITTSBURGH, Pa. — In 2013, an unmanned train carrying fracked American crude oil ran off the rails in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, incinerating the center of the tiny Canadian town and killing 47 people — most of whom were burnt to...
Railroad Retirement and unemployment insurance taxes in 2016
(Source: U.S. Railroad Retirement Board
Longevity of Railroad Retirement beneficiaries
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, December 9, 2015) CHICAGO — Every three years, the Railroad Retirement Board’s Chief Actuary conducts a study of the longevity of its annuitants, as part of a valuation of future revenues and benefit payments. The...
BNSF moves cargo from one of the world’s largest container ships
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, December 28, 2015) NEW YORK — The largest container ship ever to call at a North American port, CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin, arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on Saturday, December 26. Full story: Railway Track & Structures
Editorial: Riding (speedier) rail cars
(Source: Boston Herald editorial, December 26, 2015) BOSTON — Visions of aircraft-swift passenger trains in the Boston-New York-Washington corridor seem to be floated with some regularity, the latest being one last month from the Federal Railroad Administration for...
Norfolk Southern closing Ashtabula docks
(Source: Star Beacon, December 24, 2015) ASHTABULA, Ohio — Norfolk Southern plans to consolidate operations of its coal docks on Lake Erie by closing its Ashtabula coal pier and shifting operations to Sandusky. The change means 21 people will lose their jobs, though...
BNSF temporarily furloughs employees
(Source: Associated Press, December 30, 2015) BISMARCK, N.D. — A BNSF Railway spokeswoman says the company is temporarily furloughing some employees in response to a reduction in customers' freight transportation needs. Full story: www.twincities.com
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