Rail Industry News
KCSM to invest in Celaya rail line, exclusivity rights extended in Mexico
Kansas City Southern today announced its affiliate Kansas City Southern de Mexico has reached an agreement with the Mexican Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) to fund a new investment in the Celaya-NBA Line Railway Bypass and other infrastructure.
CSX profit grows 5% in Q2 2022 even with ongoing delivery delays
The freight railroad’s revenue jumped 28% to $3.82 billion in the period as CSX increased shipping rates and charged customers more fuel surcharges in response to soaring diesel prices.
Trouble shipping grain and feed via rail far from over, concerns now growing about possible rail worker strike at harvest
Just how bad is it? Some feed users report being just days away from running out of feed.
Rail traffic down for 21st week in a row
U.S. rail traffic for the week ending July 16, 2022 (Week 28) was 498,899 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.8% from the same week last year.
In letter to STB, UP engineer laments high level of misrouted freight cars
Pressure to reduce terminal dwell figures has prompted some Union Pacific yards to routinely depart trains that include misrouted cars simply to get them moving, a UP engineer alleges in a letter sent to federal regulators.
CSX’s Foote: Blaming PSR for rail problems is “nonsense”
“If I had the decision to make over again … we would have never laid off an employee,” CSX CEO Jim Foote said.
STB receives an earful on CP-KCS merger
The Surface Transportation Board has been receiving testimony on the proposed merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern — and it’s been an earful.
Half of Kansas rail crossings lack signals, and some say that’s just the start of the safety problems
Crossing railway tracks is a daily fact of life in most Kansas communities. The industry is a key part of the state’s history and lore, from its status as the terminus of the Chisholm Trail and a crucial waypoint for cattle drivers to the freight companies that have borne the name of Kansas cities for decades.
UP starts returning its rail cars to service
Union Pacific Railroad is beginning to “strategically and gradually” return some of its rail cars to the network, as the Class I continues to work on improving freight-rail service, a UP executive informed customers late last week.
Members appointed to PEB No. 250
President Biden has appointed the following members to Emergency Board 250: Ira F. Jaffe, Chairman; Barbara C. Denhardt, Member; and David P. Twomey, Member.
Rail workers push to strike. Here’s why they’re angry.
NBC News talked to more than 10 current and former workers about the conditions on the rails. All of the current workers said they supported a stoppage.
Unions and railroad carriers in labor battle as strike looms
All of the nation’s major railroad carriers are currently in a heated labor negotiation with around a dozen unions representing the workers.
Class I railroads expect intermodal boost after several disruptive supply-chain kinks smooth out
Similar to the massive fluctuations in the U.S. stock market over the past few months, there have been colossal highs and lows in the North American intermodal sector of late.
Railroad cargo backups threaten new logjam, Los Angeles port chief says
Railroads and importers must remove cargo that is stacking up at the nation’s busiest seaport in Los Angeles to avoid exacerbating supply chain congestion, the port chief said on Wednesday.
CP, KCS say their merger should get green light from regulators
Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern — responding to critics, skeptics, and opponents — told federal regulators this week that their proposed merger is in the public interest and should be approved.
Three injured when Amtrak train strikes UP on-track maintenance vehicle in California
Three people were injured after an Amtrak Capitol Corridor train hit on-track maintenance equipment late Friday morning, disrupting rail service for several hours.
Amtrak to STB: Deny CN’s responsive application
Amtrak is calling on the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to deny CN’s conditions to the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger.
BNSF claims CP-KCS merger will throw Houston terminal into gridlock
Projected traffic increases from the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger will put the critical Houston terminal into gridlock, BNSF Railway has warned federal regulators this week, citing a new analysis.
Two crew members injured as NS train derails in South Carolina
Two Norfolk Southern crew members were injured when their train derailed Monday morning, according to the Columbia Fire Department.
CN sees slight traffic gain in Q2 2022 while other big systems see volume declines
Canadian National was the only one of the big six railroads to gain traffic in 2022’s second quarter. CN’s traffic was up 0.4%, essentially flat compared to last year’s second quarter.
BLET News
Save the date: 2022 BLET regional meetings
The BLET National Division is pleased to announce the dates and locations of its 2022 regional meetings: June 13-17 in Denver, Colorado; and August 1-5 in Baltimore, Maryland.
BLET opens Nashville regional meeting
More than 300 members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and their families convened in Nashville, Tennessee, on the morning of August 3 for opening ceremonies of the BLET’s second regional meeting of 2021.
BLET members ratify new contract with PATH
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH), which governs rates of pay, work rules, and health care for over 175 members.
Kerley reelected General Chairman of CSXT-Western Lines
Keith Kerley was reelected by acclamation to his second term as General Chairman of the BLET’s CSXT Western Lines General Committee of Adjustment at the GCA’s quadrennial meeting on July 13-14,2021.
Multi-faceted Coalition to Campaign for Federal High-Speed Rail Investment
A broad coalition of public interest, labor, environmental and business groups announced today that it has launched a major campaign to ask Congress to include $205 billion in funding for high-speed rail in the pending infrastructure bills, as well as robust labor standards, a High-Speed Rail Development Authority, and a Rail Trust Fund.
BLET honors President Hoffa at Austin regional meeting
National President Dennis R. Pierce honored Jim Hoffa, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with an engraved brass bell yesterday during opening ceremonies of the BLET’s regional meeting in Austin, Texas.
BLET member among essential workers honored during NYC ticker tape parade
To thank the essential workers who helped pull the city through the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City hosted a ticker tape parade on July 7, 2021, called “The Hometown Heroes Parade.” Transportation workers were among the honorees at the event, and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) was represented by Brother Art Blakey.
BLET applauds passage of INVEST in America Act by U.S. House of Representatives
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen thanks members of Congress for their ongoing support of the INVEST in America Act (H.R. 3684), which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on July 1. The bill would fund critical rail and other infrastructure needs, while mandating important safety improvements for rail workers.
Deadline approaches for BLET’s Nashville regional meeting, August 2-6, 2021
Those planning to attend the BLET’s regional meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, are advised that the deadline to make hotel reservations has been extended to Tuesday, July 6, 2021.
BLET mourns passing of Washington State Legislative Board Chairman Shahraim Allen
Officers, members and staff of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) are deeply saddened to learn of the unexpected passing of Washington State Legislative Board Chairman Shahraim C. Allen, who died on June 24, 2021. He was 45 years old.
