Rail Industry News
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.
UP to announce Q2 2022 earnings on July 21
Union Pacific Corporation will release second quarter 2022 financial and operating results on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at 7:45 a.m. ET.
CSX kicks off Chicago intermodal yard expansion project
CSX and Chicago officials earlier this week held a groundbreaking ceremony for an expansion of the 63rd Street intermodal container storage yard.
BLET News
BLET Convention national anthem video now available online
A copy of the Star-Spangled Banner video that played each morning during the BLET’s Fifth National Convention in Last Vegas last month is now available for viewing in the members’ area of the BLET website.
Dick Crow reelected UP-Northern Region General Chairman
R.E. (Dick) Crow was reelected by acclamation to his third full term as General Chairman of the Union Pacific-Northern Region General Committee of Adjustment during the GCA’s quadrennial meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 5-6, 2022.
President Pierce to attend Dallas-Fort Worth Town Hall November 1
BLET National President Dennis Pierce will attend a Town Hall meeting in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on November 1 to discuss the tentative national agreement. The meeting is open to BLET members from all involved railroads.
President Pierce discusses tentative national agreement in podcast
BLET National President Dennis Pierce discussed details of the tentative national agreement as a guest on America’s Work Force Union Podcast where he was interviewed by program host Ed “Flash” Ferenc. A
BLET members to begin voting November 1 on tentative national agreement
Ballots will be mailed Monday, October 31, to approximately 24,000 BLET members and voting will begin on November 1 regarding the tentative national agreement. Ballots are due on November 20 by 11:59 p.m. ET.
President Pierce to attend Town Hall meetings Oct. 25-28 to discuss tentative national agreement
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, October 20 — The BLET’s Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe General Committees of Adjustment are hosting four Town Hall meetings in Missouri and Nebraska open to BLET members from all involved railroads next week regarding the tentative...
BLET joins in 2022 Houston Solidarity Rally
A large contingent of BLET members and officers participated in a solidarity rally in Houston on October 18. The purpose was to create and show solidarity among members of BLET, SMART-TD, BMWED, along with members of other invited rail labor unions.
Delegates donate to help family of fallen Brother Marvin Lee
BLET delegates showed their generosity at the Fifth National Convention on October 13, donating money to help the family of a fallen Brother. In an additional act of kindness, the BLET donated more than 250 boxed lunches to the Las Vegas Rescue Mission to help feed the homeless.
Retiring Vice Presidents Pruitt, Priester address delegates as Fifth National Convention adjourns
Delegates on October 13 heard farewell addresses from retiring National Division officers Lee Pruitt and Mike Priester as the Fifth National Convention of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) came to a close.
Video: President Pierce delivers State of the Union speech
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce delivered the Report of the National President during the morning session of the BLET’s Fifth National Convention on Monday, October 10.
