Rail Industry News
CSX: 21 train cars derail near Baltimore, no injuries reported
(Source: WBAL TV-11, November 24, 2020) BALTIMORE, Md. — Baltimore City Fire crews responded to a CSX freight train derailment in North Baltimore on Monday night. Full story: www.wbal.com
UP: Hydrochloric acid spilled during California derailment
(Source: Visalia Times Delta, November 24, 2020) VISALIA, Calif. — The cause of a six-train car pileup remains unknown today, 24-plus hours after the wreck along Highway 99. No one was injured, however, tankers full of hazardous material were at risk of spilling over,...
Opinion: Defining Amtrak’s true mission
(Source: Railway Age opinion column by Tony Coscia, November 23, 2020. Mr. Coscia is Chairman of the Amtrak Board of Directors.) NEW YORK — It has been an honor to serve on the Amtrak Board for the past decade. I am extremely proud of the hardworking employees at...
KCS VP sells $287,000 in company stock
(Source: Market Beat, November 23, 2020) NEW YORK — Kansas City Southern VP Lora S. Cheatum sold 1,519 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, November 20. The stock was sold at an average price of $188.95, for a total transaction of $287,015.05....
Overturned tank cars removed nearly 24 hours after UP derailment in California
(Source: ABC30.com, November 24, 2020) FRESNO, Calif. — California Highway Patrol officers continue to direct a slow line of traffic up one lane of northbound Highway 99 in Tulare County on Tuesday morning, nearly 24 hours after a train derailment shut down the...
Railroads approaching PTC implementation, FRA says
(Source: Transport Topics, November 23, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The automatic braking system Congress is mandating for the country’s railroads is almost implemented on the route miles required by law, according to federal regulators’ most recent update. Full story:...
Report finds Hudson River rail tunnels could be rehabbed, but critics are wary
(Source: www.nj.com, November 24, 2020) NEWARK, N.J. — A similar solution that spared subway riders from a painful service disruption for tunnel repairs could be used on the 110-year-old Hudson River rail tunnels damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, said a consultant’s...
October U.S. Class I rail headcount drops despite rising volumes
(Source: Freight Waves, November 23, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Rail employment headcount in October among the U.S. operations of the Class I railroads fell to its second lowest level in 2020, according to the latest data from the Surface Transportation Board. U.S....
Amtrak reports $801.1 million operating loss
(Source: Railway Age, November 23, 2020) NEW YORK — Amtrak reported today preliminary results for fiscal year 2020 (October 2019-September 2020), including an operating loss of $801.1 million due to the pandemic. Operating revenues were $2.3 billion, a decrease of...
Amtrak supports end to RRB benefits sequester
(Source: Transportation Today, November 23, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak officials are espousing the benefits of a federal measure designed to provide equality to rail workers by ending the worker benefits sequester. Full story: Transportation Today
Minot’s new intermodal rail ramp “ramps up”
(Source: AG Week, November 23, 2020) MINOT, N.D. — They’re ramping up the intermodal “ramp” at Minot, N.D., a key piece of what could become very important as an international launching pad for specialty crop growers and exporters. Full story: AG Week
Amtrak, NJ Transit complete refresh of ticketed waiting area at NY Penn Station
(Source: Amtrak press release, November 20, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT have completed the second and final phase of the Ticketed Waiting Area refresh at New York Penn Station at the Amtrak Concourse on the Upper Level and 8th Avenue side of the...
Union Pacific eyes Upper Midwest for intermodal opportunities
(Source: Freight Waves, November 21, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Union Pacific is hoping to attract more intermodal customers in the Upper Midwest now that it has an intermodal terminal in Minneapolis. Full story: Freight Waves
EVP, CMO of Kansas City Southern is exercising options
(Source: Smarter Analyst, November 20, 2020) NEW YORK — Yesterday it was reported that the EVP, CMO of Kansas City Southern, Michael Naatz, exercised options to sell 5,355 KSU shares at $105.63 a share, for a total transaction value of $1.01 million. Full story:...
Weekly U.S. coal train loadings climb to five week high
(Source: S&P Global Platts, November 20, 2020) HOUSTON — U.S. coal train loadings rose to a five-week high in the week ended Nov. 13, as loadings from Northern Appalachia jumped to a seven-month high, Surface Transportation Board data showed Nov. 20. Full story: S&P...
Wave of Asian imports engulfs more U.S. ports, driving up costs
(Source: The Load Star, November 20, 2020) NEW YORK — The wave of imports that has overwhelmed Los Angeles and Long Beach has spread to other gateways, causing delays and higher costs for importers. The port of Oakland reported a 10.4% year-on-year rise in imports in...
Biden forms transportation transition team
(Source: American Trucker, November 20, 2020) NEW YORK — The Biden-Harris Transition Team created an 18-member panel to review the Department of Transportation (DOT) and other related U.S. agencies to help prepare the incoming administration before taking over the...
Senate confirms two additional STB members, bringing board roster up to five for first time
(Source: Freight Waves, November 20, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Freight railroads and shippers alike praised the Senate confirmation this week of two additional members to the Surface Transportation Board (STB). The confirmations of Robert Primus and Michelle Schultz...
Class I employment continues downward trend
(Source: Progressive Railroading, November 20, 2020) Class Is as of mid-October employed 116,804 people, down 1.12% from mid-September's level and down 13.21% from October's 2019 count, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB) data. All six employment...
CSX employee killed in Fostoria rail yard
(Source: Television 13 ABC, November 22, 2020) FOSTORIA, Ohio — According to a spokesperson for CSX, an employee was “fatally injured while performing work this morning at our rail yard in Fostoria, Ohio.” Full story: www.13abc.com
BLET News
In the Line of Duty: Dan J. Hall, John S. Hall
Three Union Pacific crew members, including two members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, were killed in the line of duty in a head-on rail accident near the town of Goodwell, Okla., at approximately 10 a.m. on June 24.
Whistleblower rights under attack; BLET fights back
The railroad industry has launched a coordinated attack on rights enacted by Congress as part of the Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA).
BLETs 85th Southeastern Meeting Association begins in Orlando
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce led members in a moment of silence this afternoon for three Union Pacific railroad workers killed in the line of duty near Goodwell, Okla., on June 24.
Update: New BLET membership cards
The BLET National Division is continuing to receive positive feedback from members after launching a major overhaul of the Organization’s membership card program earlier this month.
Collective bargaining rights are under attack — again
An anti-union bill currently making its way through Congress seeks to undermine the rights of workers to bargain collectively under the guise of higher wages.
Deadline approaching for 2012 IWC in Billings, Mont.
July 2 is the early registration deadline for members planning to attend the BLET’s 72nd annual International Western Convention (IWC), slated for July 29-August 1 in Billings, Mont.
BLET legislative workshop preps officers for fall elections
The BLET held a State Legislative Board Chairmen’s training workshop in Washington, D.C. from June 3 through 7, 2012. Twenty-four State Legislative Board Chairmen, Vice Chairman and Secretary-Treasurers from around the country attended the workshop, which covered issues such as the BLET-PAC, the 2012 elections and the duties of State Legislative Board Chairmen.
BLET announces launch of RailroaderSleep.org
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce announced today that the results of a study regarding railroad worker fatigue management, sleep, and sleep disorders have been made publicly available.
BLET members ratify six-year contract with Grand Trunk Western
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen today ratified a new a six-year collective bargaining agreement with CN’s Grand Trunk Western (GTW) property.
GC Warren Dent reelected by acclamation to serve UP-Southern Region GCA
General Chairman J. Warren Dent Jr. was reelected by acclamation to the office of General Chairman at the Union Pacific-Southern Region General Committee of Adjustment meetings in Fort Worth, Texas, from May 31-June 1, 2012.
