Rail Industry News
Union Pacific agrees to start collecting fares again on Metra trains
(Source: Streetsblog Chicago, April 19, 2021) CHICAGO — Just when I was starting to wonder if Union Pacific Railroad was ever going to return to collecting fares on the three commuter rail lines it operates for Metra, today both entities confirmed that conductors will...
Biden budget would spark “second great rail revolution”
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 19, 2021) President Joe Biden last week presented to Congress his fiscal-year 2022 discretionary budget request, including $25.6 billion for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). Full story: Progressive Railroading
Families of railroaders killed in 2019 runaway derailment sue CP Rail and Ottawa
(Source: CBC News, April 19, 2021) OTTAWA — As CP Train 301 rolled away from where it sat, parked on a mountain slope just west of the Alberta border — one of the most dangerous stretches of rail in North America — the doomed crew hopped aboard, believing they would...
CN statement on proposed takeover of KCS
(Source: Canadian National Railway press release, April 20, 2021) MONTREAL — CN today announced that it has made a superior proposal to combine with Kansas City Southern (KCS) in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $33.7 billion, or $325 per share. Together, CN and...
CN makes $33.7 billion rival takeover bid to challenge CP Rail’s plan to buy Kansas City Southern
(Source: Canadian Press, April 20, 2021) OTTAWA — Canadian National Railway Co. made a rival takeover offer Tuesday for Kansas City Southern in a cash-and-stock bid valued at US$33.7 billion. The offer tops a proposal made last month by Canadian Pacific Railway and...
Five Midwest mayors urge DOT, FRA to support Amtrak expansion
(Source: The Capital Times, April 15, 2021) MADISON, Wisc. — Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and the mayors of Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Paul and Minneapolis urged federal officials to support extending Amtrak’s passenger rail line through the upper Midwest. Full...
Downeaster returning to pre-COVID-19 schedule
(Source: Associated Press, April 19, 2021) PORTLAND, Maine — The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority is ready to restore the Amtrak Downeaster's pre-COVID-19 schedule this spring. Full story: www.usnews.com
Midwest mayors seek extension of Amtrak Hiawatha route
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 16, 2021) Five Midwest mayors are urging federal transportation officials to support a proposed extension of Amtrak's passenger-rail line through the upper Midwest. Full story: Progressive Railroading
U.S. infrastructure plan spurs talk of Las Vegas-LA rail service
(Source: Associated Press, April 18, 2021) LAS VEGAS — Proposed federal infrastructure funding for rail projects has transportation planners taking another look at a Los Angeles-to-Las Vegas passenger route that Amtrak stopped in 1997 and at a high-speed rail line...
STB forms passenger rail working group
(Source: Railway Age, April 16, 2021) NEW YORK — The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has established an in-house Passenger Rail Working Group to ensure it can meet its PRIIA obligation to assess Amtrak on-time performance data, which the Federal Railroad...
GOP lawmakers seek end to federal funds for California high-speed rail project
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 16, 2021) A dozen Republican congressmen — led by House Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Ranking Member Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) — are asking U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to justify federal...
Using operating ratio to assess transportation companies has its pros and cons, say experts
(Source: Freight Waves, April 18, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Operating ratio (OR) is a way for investors to compare the financials of one company against its peers. Investors use OR to gauge whether a company is generating sufficient profits. The formula to calculate...
Union Pacific cuts almost 60 jobs in Palestine, Texas
(Source: KLTV, April 16, 2021) PALESTINE, Texas — Union Pacific notified workers at the Palestine Car Facility that 57 positions will be eliminated mid-June. Currently, the Palestine Union Pacific workforce is 60 people. Full story: www.kltv.com
UP finalizing steps to pull out of Palestine
(Source: Palestine Herald, April 15, 2021) PALESTINE, Texas — Union Pacific Railroad met with Palestine staff Thursday and told them they have 60 days until the Palestine Car Facility closes June 14, according to longtime employee Brad Henry. Full story: Palestine...
Texas high-speed rail opponents file suit against FRA, DOT
(Source: www.kbtx.com, April 15, 2021) WACO, Texas — Texans Against High Speed Rail, several landowners, and six Brazos Valley counties are suing the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in an attempt to stop a privately...
CSX starts sale for Virginia’s $3.7 billion rail initiative
(Source: Railway Age, April 15, 2021) NEW YORK — CSX Corp. has closed the first phase of its $525 million rail agreement with Virginia for the commonwealth’s $3.7 billion initiative to improve passenger and freight rail capacity and relieve automotive traffic...
Teamsters reach agreement in principle with Allegiant Air
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, April 14, 2021) LAS VEGAS — The Teamsters have reached an agreement in principle for 415 mechanics and related classifications at Allegiant Air. After the agreement in principle is finalized between the...
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending April 10, 2021
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, April 14, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending April 10, 2021. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 513,724...
U.S. rail traffic jumps 25% year-over-year, but is flat from prior week
(Source: Freight Waves, April 15, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Weekly U.S. rail volumes rose nearly 25% last week, although some commodities may be affected by uneven year-over-year comparisons because the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last year caused widespread...
CP, KCS counter DOJ concerns
(Source: Railway Age, April 15, 2021) NEW YORK — Merger applicants Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) are refuting the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recent filing with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) questioning use of a voting trust and...
BLET News
BLET delegates back two-person train crews on final day of Third National Convention
Delegates today adopted a resolution pledging the BLET’s unwavering support for two-person train crews during the final day of the union’s Third National Convention.
President Pierce, Advisory Board elected by acclamation on Day 3 of BLET National Convention
Dennis R. Pierce was elected by acclamation to his second full term as President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen this morning at the union’s Third National Convention in Las Vegas. Additionally, all Advisory Board members were elected without opposition. Their terms of office will begin on January 1, 2015.
Teamsters’ Ken Hall highlights Day 2 of BLET’s Third National Convention
Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall motivated BLET delegates with an energetic speech that was a highlight today of the BLET’s Third National Convention. Delegates enjoyed video messages from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown during Day 2 of the session.
NST Bill Walpert bids farewell at BLET Third National Convention
BLET National Secretary-Treasurer William C. Walpert delivered a heartfelt and emotional retirement speech yesterday during the afternoon session of the BLET’s Third National Convention.
President Pierce addresses BLET delegates at Third National Convention
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce delivered his state of the union speech today to conclude the morning session of the BLET’s Third National Convention.
BLET Third National Convention begins
The Third National Convention of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) opened here this morning with over 400 delegates representing 38,000 locomotive engineers and trainmen on national freight and passenger rail systems across the United States.
Final preparations underway for BLET’s Third National Convention
Convention planners are working at a fevered pitch to make final preparations for opening ceremonies of the BLET’s Third National Convention slated to begin on Monday, September 29.
UP General Chairman Dick Crow elected by acclamation
Dick Crow was elected by acclamation to his first full term as General Chairman of the Union Pacific-Northern District General Committee of Adjustment during quadrennial meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada, September 24-25, 2014.
Kertesz reelected at Pennsylvania State Legislative Board meeting
Chairman Ken Kertesz was reelected by acclamation to his fourth term at the Pennsylvania State Legislative Board’s quadrennial meeting in Hershey, Pa., from September 13-15, 2014.
UP General Chairman Bill Hannah reelected by acclamation
Brother D.W. “Bill” Hannah was reelected by acclamation to his fifth term as General Chairman of the Union Pacific-Western Lines General Committee of Adjustment at quadrennial meetings in San Diego, Calif., on September 16, 2014.
