Rail Industry News
BNSF’s net income up 5 percent, total revenue down 6 percent in 2Q 2015
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 11, 2015) BNSF Railway Co.'s total revenue in second-quarter 2015 fell 6 percent to $5.4 billion compared with $5.7 billion in second-quarter 2014, but net income rose 5 percent to $963 million compared with $916 million a year...
Amtrak, Septa on track to meet Positive Train Control mandate
(Source: www.nj.com, August 11, 2015) PHILADELPHIA — Of the 41 railroads required to meet a federal mandate for implementing Positive Train Control (PTC), SEPTA and Amtrak are among the 11 expected to complete the project by the end of this year. Full story:...
Wisconsin residents express concern over stalled oil trains
(Source: Associated Press, August 10, 2015) AUBURNDALE, Wisc. — Neighbors living near railroad tracks in Wisconsin are becoming increasingly concerned about long train blockages since an increase in sand and oil shipments have caused them to grow into a frequent and...
Thanks to rail, Midwest ships more crude oil than it receives
(Source: Bakken.com, August 11, 2015) FARGO, N.D. — The Midwest has become a net shipper of crude oil, reports the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Due to increased rail shipments and pipeline reversals, the Midwest region now ships out more crude oil than it...
Tacoma rail trestle set for demolition; new bridge, platform to benefit Sounder and Amtrak passengers
(Source: The News Tribune, August 10, 2015) TACOMA, Wash. — Sound Transit on Tuesday (Aug. 11) will host a public meeting to present plans describing the design concepts and architectural elements that will guide construction of a steel-and-concrete bridge that will...
North Dakota hires BNSF manager as inspector for state rail safety program
(Source: InForum, August 10, 2015) BISMARCK, N.D. — A manager for the railroad involved in two fiery oil train derailments in North Dakota during the past two years has been hired as the first track inspector for a new state-run rail safety program. Full story:...
Genesee & Wyoming to acquire Claremont Concord Railroad
(Source: Valley News, August 9, 2015) WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. — The Claremont Concord Railroad, one of the smallest railroad lines in the country, is getting hitched to one of the world’s biggest rail carriers. Full story: Valley News
For ex-workers, there’s nothing sweet about Hostess’s resurgence
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, August 7, 2015) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Almost three years ago, just before Thanksgiving, Hostess Brand executives threw their then 18,000 union workers under the bus by blaming them for the need to declare...
Crews fighting grass fire in Oregon; Portland & Western train trestle fully engulfed
(Source: The Oregonian, August 11, 2015) PORTLAND, Ore. — Acrid smoke shrouded Sherwood on Monday evening as an infrequently used train trestle quickly burned along with the wetlands underneath, a Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue spokeswoman said. The trestle, near...
Cleaner locomotive prototype readied at Knoxville Locomotive Works
(Source: Knoxville News Sentinel, August 11, 2015) KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Knoxville Locomotive Works will soon meet a milestone in its previously announced three-year, $6 million expansion for the development of a cleaner engine for locomotives that meets new federal...
Reluctance by NJ, NY to help finance Hudson River tunnel bodes ill for commuters
(Source: NJ Spotlight, August 11, 2015) TRENTON, N.J. — Lawmakers in Trenton told passing the buck on Gateway project means rail-transit woes will only get worse. Full story: www.njspotlight.com
Work to start on first station along Midwest high-speed rail line
(Source: Associated Press, August 11, 2015) KANKAKEE, Ill. — Construction is about to begin on the first station of a planned high-speed rail line between Chicago and St. Louis. Full story: Washington Times
Are U.S. regulators trying to cover up influence of lobbyists on new oil by rail regulations?
(Source: DeSmog Blog, August 9, 2015) NEW YORK — It’s no secret that the oil and rail industries lobbied the Obama Administration heavily during the creation of new oil-by-rail regulations released this past May, with lobbyists reportedly not even taking a break the...
Amtrak exec to NJ lawmakers: Train delays in tunnel may become more common
(Source: The Record, August 10, 2015) TRENTON, N.J. — With more failures imminent for the century-old Hudson River rail tunnel, and with initial figures suggesting a new tunnel may cost $14 billion, state Sen. Robert Gordon said Monday that New Jersey should start...
RRB Q&A: Unemployment and sickness benefits for railroad employees
(Source: U.S. Railroad Retirement Board press release, July 14, 2015) CHICAGO — The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) administers the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, which provides two kinds of benefits for qualified railroaders: unemployment benefits for those who...
Oregon railroad inspector got 100 volunteers to repaint man’s home
(Source: Daily Mail, August 7, 2015) A railroader worker in Oregon made an elderly couple’s day when he rallied more than 100 volunteers to help paint their ramshackle old house. Full story: Daily Mail
First new rail bridge in 100 years opens between U.S., Mexico
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 10, 2015) The first new rail bridge between the United States and Mexico in more than 100 years opened for business late last week. On Aug. 7, freight trains carrying carloads from the Mexican state of Tamaulipas and into...
MTA seeks $58 million for new MARC locomotives
(Source: Baltimore Sun, August 10, 2015) BALTIMORE, Md. — The Maryland Transit Administration wants to spend $58 million to buy eight diesel locomotives for its MARC service to replace its fleet of electric engines — welcome news for commuting regulars. MARC's...
Much of the $1.2 billion spent on scrapped plan for ARC tunnel will go to waste
(Source: The Record, August 8, 2015) BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — Taxpayers have spent nearly $1.2 billion on the as-yet-fruitless effort to expand rail access across the Hudson, according to new information obtained from the Port Authority, NJ Transit and other government...
Gov. Cuomo says Hudson tunnels need grants, not loans to states, from feds
(Source: New York Times, August 9, 2015) NEW YORK — Two weeks after the federal government’s top transportation official urged the governors of New York and New Jersey to meet with him about how to solve the problems plaguing rail service between their states, Gov....
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