Rail Industry News
CP derailment knocks out power to Field, B.C.
(Source: CBC News, January 26, 2021) FIELD, B.C. — A train derailment near Field, B.C., has knocked out power to the village. CP Rail confirmed that a grain train derailed west of the village at 1:40 a.m. MT on Tuesday. Nobody was injured, a spokesperson said. CP said...
Biden administration vows Gulf Coast visit regarding Amtrak revival
(Source: www.al.com, January 27, 2021) MOBILE, Ala. — President Joe Biden took thousands of train trips between his Delaware home and Washington, D.C., when he was in the Senate, earning him the title “Amtrak Joe.” Full story: www.al.com
Amtrak CEO Flynn outlines railroad’s legislative priorities
(Source: Progressive Railroading, January 27, 2021) Amtrak Chief Executive Officer Bill Flynn is urging Congress to support five legislative priorities that would help the national intercity passenger railroad recover from the pandemic's economic fallout and expand...
U.S. weekly coal carloads rise to six week high
(Source: S&P Global Platts, January 27, 2021) HOUSTON — U.S. coal carload originations rose to a six-week high 63,474 in the week that ended Jan. 23, up 10.1% from the 57,665 a week earlier, according to a Jan. 27 report from the Association of American Railroads....
AAR: Intermodal lifts total traffic as carloads play catch-up
(Source: Railway Age, January 27, 2021) NEW YORK — An intermodal gain approaching a whopping 20% coupled to a modest decrease in carload traffic, compared to 2020, drove a rail freight traffic increase of nearly 10% for Week 3 of 2021, the Association of American...
CP’s Q4 2020 operating ratio hits record low
(Source: Freight Waves, January 27, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Canadian Pacific reached a record low operating ratio (OR) in the fourth quarter of 2020: 53.9% compared with 57% in the fourth quarter of 2019. Investors sometimes use OR to gauge the financial health of...
CN cautious about Q1 2021, but bullish about second half of the year
(Source: Freight Waves, January 27, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Although CN is looking forward to an improved economy in the second half of 2021, uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccine rollout are making the Canadian railway “cautious” about...
Norfolk Southern eyes longer, heavier trains as it pursues PSR
(Source: Freight Waves, January 27, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Norfolk Southern has begun to focus more on lengthening trains and increasing train weights as a way to keep costs down and increase network productivity, according to executives on the company’s...
New OmniTrax CEO touts role of rail, port
(Source: Effingham Now, January 26, 2021) DENVER — The new CEO of OmniTrax says the company will bring more rail-served industry to Georgia. Full story: www.savannahnow.com
Intermodal carloads up 12% but railroads struggle with trip plan compliance
(Source: Supply Chain Dive, January 26, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Railroads benefited in the back half of 2020, as imports surged and retailers restocked shelves. Volume for traditional commodities, such as coal, slumped on the rail lines in 2020, but intermodal grew,...
Amtrak CEO’s letter to Congress outlines top five priorities
(Source: Global Railway Review, January 27, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Bill Flynn, Amtrak CEO, has written to Congress outlining the national railroad’s top five priorities as it looks to improve and expand rail services across the U.S. Full story: Global Railway...
Rep. Payne of N.J. voted Chairman of House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials
(Source: Insider NJ, January 26, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. became the chairman of the Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee today for the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure. It oversees the economic...
Ice, unclear rules cited in fatal accident of rail worker in Edmundston
(Source: CBC News, January 26, 2021) MONTREAL — Rules open to interpretation and ice interfering with brakes contributed to a fatal accident at the Edmundston CN rail yard that left a an employee pinned between two rail cars. Pierre-Luc "Sune" Levesque, 33, died at...
Teamsters Canada Rail Conference statement on TSB report into death of member Pierre-Luc Levesque
(Source: Teamsters Canada Rail Conference press release, January 26, 2021) LAVAL, Quebec — On January 26, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) released its report into the accident which took the life of Brother Pierre-Luc Levesque, a CN conductor/foreman trainee, in...
CN releases Q4 and full year 2020 results
(Source: CN press release, January 26, 2021) MONTREAL — CN is proud to announce that its diluted earnings per share (EPS) grew 17 per cent, and 14 per cent on an adjusted basis in the fourth quarter, while free cash flow for the full-year 2020 reached a record of over...
Norfolk Southern reports fourth-quarter and full-year 2020 results
(Source: Norfolk Southern press release, January 27, 2021) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corporation today reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2020 financial results. Fourth-quarter net income was $671 million, diluted earnings per share were $2.64, and the...
Operation Lifesaver releases online train safety game for kids
(Source: Operation Lifesaver press release, January 25, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Operation Lifesaver Inc., (OLI), the national rail safety non-profit, today releases its first interactive online educational game to help kids make safe choices around railroad tracks...
Amtrak pledges support to Montana rail authority in quest for passenger service
(Source: Missoula Current, January 25, 2021) MISSOULA, Mont. — Amtrak will provide guidance and support to the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority as it works to restore service across the southern tier of Montana, an agency representative said last week. Full story:...
Amtrak seeks contractor interest in New Carrollton project
(Source: Progressive Railroading, January 25, 2021) Amtrak is accepting letters of interest from contractors until Feb. 15 for construction work at New Carrollton Station in Maryland. Full story: Progressive Railroading
New agreement allows BNSF Bismarck bridge project to move forward
(Source: Bismarck Tribune, January 25, 2021) BISMARCK, N.D. — The future of the Bismarck-Mandan Rail Bridge spanning the Missouri River has a clearer path forward in an agreement between parties with a stake in the structure. Full story: Bismarck Tribune
BLET News
Email outage at BLET National Division
The BLET National Division Office is currently suffering an email outage due to complications with corrupt server software. As a result, email users attempting to contact the National Division are experiencing message delivery failures.
Greenfield Village event sold out at BLET 150th
Members and guests who have not yet registered for the BLET’s 150th anniversary celebration in Detroit are advised that the May 7 trip to the Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village is now sold out.
Overflow hotel, Greenfield Village update for BLET 150th anniversary celebration
The BLET National Division is announcing overflow hotel information for the Organization’s 150th anniversary celebration in Detroit in early May.
BLET enters 150th year
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen enters its 150th year on May 8, 2013. It is the oldest transportation labor organization in North America.
Richmond to host BLET for 86th annual SMA
All members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) are invited to Richmond, Va., for the 86th annual Southeastern Meeting Association (SMA) from June 23-28, 2013.
Railroad Retirement Board to host informational conferences in 2013
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board will host a series of informational conferences throughout 2013. Additional conferences will be added to the list throughout the year as more dates and locations are available.
Sequester impacts RUIA benefits
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board announced on Friday that unemployment and sickness benefits payable under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) for days after February 28, 2013, are being reduced by 9.2% as part of a package of automatic spending cuts required by the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA), which was passed in August 2011.
BLET donates to help striking school teachers
The National Division of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has donated $1,000 to striking educators in Strongsville, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland.
Teamsters host training workshop on Railway Labor Act
The Teamsters Leadership Academy is hosting a three-day program to educate members regarding the Railway Labor Act. Scheduled for May 29-31, 2013, the workshop will take place at Teamsters headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Runion reelected Chairman of Wyoming State Legislative Board
Cory L. Runion was reelected by acclamation to his third term as Chairman of the Wyoming State Legislative Board following triennial meetings that concluded on February 21 in Cheyenne, Wyo.
