Rail Industry News
Before fatal Missouri Amtrak crash, county alerted MoDOT and BNSF about brush blocking views
For more than two-and-a-half years, the Chariton County Commission has tried to get concerns about the safety of the Porche Prairie Avenue railroad crossing addressed, but BNSF and the Missouri Department of Transportation were largely unresponsive to those concerns.
New York state increases transit worker protections against assault
The legislation increases to second-degree assault the law that charges individuals who attack or harass transit workers.
Downeaster ridership bounces back to near-2019 levels
So far this month, Downeaster passenger trains are carrying 94% as many riders as in June 2019, before the pandemic.
BNSF car backlog hits North Dakota
BNSF’s backlog in the Peace Garden State is at 2,752 cars, which is down 3,600 cars from last month.
Six years after deadly train collision, memorial unveiled in Panhandle, Texas
A memorial was unveiled in Panhandle on Tuesday, six years after a deadly train collision. Placed at the crash site, the new memorial honors Lara Taylor, Kenneth “KP” Smith and Cody Owens.
4th person has died following Missouri Amtrak derailment
The dead — three passengers and the truck driver — have not been identified.
BNSF, MoDOT have conflicting stories about safety upgrades planned at deadly crossing
The Missouri Department of Transportation and BNSF Railway on Tuesday revealed conflicting stories regarding the process to bring safety improvements to a train crossing at the site of Monday’s fatal Amtrak derailment in northern Missouri.
Missouri Amtrak derailment may worsen supply chain delays
One of Missouri’s busiest railroad lines is shut down after an Amtrak train struck a dump truck and derailed Monday afternoon, killing four people. The incident and subsequent investigation has potential to delay supply chains.
A passenger recounts the moment Amtrak train derailed: “It was hell on Earth”
A passenger on board the Amtrak train that crashed into a truck and derailed in Missouri on Monday, killing four people, has described the accident as “hell on Earth.”
Congested Port of Oakland slashing free wait time for import containers
On July 1, Oakland is reducing the tariff-free time from seven days to four days to reduce congestion on its marine terminal, and may raise penalties for containers that sit for too long.
Canada’s TSB reassesses outstanding rail safety recommendations
TSB railway investigations include occurrences that take place on federally regulated track anywhere in Canada and touch on such subjects as operational decision making, risk management, component failure, supervision, metallurgy and track-train dynamics.
3 dead, multiple hurt as Amtrak’s Southwest Chief derails
Amtrak’s Southwest Chief train 4 traveling eastbound from Los Angeles to Chicago on June 27 derailed after striking a dump truck obstructing a public highway/rail grade crossing in Missouri.
BNSF aims to prevent Fourth of July meltdown by limiting traffic bound for California
BNSF Railway’s decision to meter a broad range of carload traffic bound for California beginning next week is aimed at preventing congestion from worsening on the busy Southern Transcon during the Fourth of July holiday period when many crews mark off.
NS, PennDOT deal expands passenger train service in Western Pa.
The state announced Monday that a deal had been reached to expand passenger access to railroads in Western Pennsylvania and add a second daily route between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.
Texas Central wins court ruling, but railroad’s future is uncertain
The Texas Supreme Court has affirmed by a 5-3 vote that Texas Central Railroad is an interurban electric railway company, which allows it to exercise the right of eminent domain, the High Speed Rail Alliance reported late last week.
NS kicks off new operating plan
Norfolk Southern Railway today announced the official launch of TOP|SPG, the Class I’s latest operating plan.
Beset by congestion, BNSF to limit carload traffic bound for California
BNSF’s recrew rate was much higher along the Southern Transcon, which across New Mexico, Arizona, and into Southern California carries more than 80 trains per day and is the busiest freight railroad in North America. BNSF recrewed 19.9% of its trains on the California Division and 22.5% on the neighboring Southwest Division.
AAR: Rail traffic declines for 17th straight week as of June 18, 2022
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 501,207 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.5 percent compared with the same week last year. This is the 17th consecutive week that total traffic has declined.
Rail carloads rise a little, but intermodal falls a lot
Year-to-date, carloads improved an almost negligible 0.02%, but intermodal dropped 6.3%, compared to the prior-year period.
Federal Maritime Commission members urge STB to reject CP-KCS merger
Three of the Federal Maritime Commission’s five members have urged the Surface Transportation Board to reject the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger, saying the deal would hurt U.S. ports.
BLET News
BLET reaches tentative agreement with Bombardier for MARC engineers
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with Bombardier Transportation Services (BTS). The agreement covers rates of pay, benefits and work rules for 15 members who work for Bombardier’s Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) passenger line operating between Martinsburg, W.Va. and Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Md.
2021 BLET Scholarship Directory
Each year, the BLET National Division compiles a list of scholarship opportunities available to the children of BLET members. Numerous financial aid opportunities are published here in the 2021 BLET Scholarship Directory.
Coordinated Bargaining Coalition Update
The Rail Unions comprising the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition (CBC), negotiating together in the current round of National Negotiations, issued a statement on January 22.
Allen reelected to third term as Washington SLB Chairman
Brother Shahraim C. Allen was reelected by acclamation to his third term as Chairman of the Washington State Legislative Board at the Board’s quadrennial meeting on December 10, 2020.
FRA refuses to act on rail security improvements
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, January 18 — The head of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has refused to take any action whatsoever to protect passenger railroad workers and the traveling public in and around the nation’s capital following the deadly January 6...
Rail unions petition Homeland Security to enhance passenger rail security after U.S. Capitol insurrection
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Jan. 13, 2021 — The leaders of two of the nation’s largest railroad worker unions urgently petitioned the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a letter Jan. 13 to enact a “No-Ride List” on passenger rail carriers after the deadly Jan. 6...
Rail unions petition FRA to protect Amtrak passengers, personnel after U.S. Capitol insurrection
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Jan. 12, 2021 — The leaders of two of the nation’s largest railroad worker unions urgently petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a letter January 11 to prevent security vulnerabilities and to...
Dinges reelected Chairman of Maryland State Legislative Board
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, January 4 — Brother David M. Dinges of BLET Division 181 (Brunswick, Md.) was reelected by acclamation to his second term as Chairman of the Maryland State Legislative Board (SLB) at the Board’s quadrennial meeting on December 19, 2020. The BLET’s...
NTSB, BLET urge action on buffer cars to protect train crews
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, December 18 — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a Safety Recommendation Report on December 15, calling out the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for...
2021 Hoffa scholarship application process now open
The James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund has begun accepting applications for the 2021 award year. The Fund awards financial scholarships to the sons, daughters and financial dependents of Teamster members.
