WASHINGTON — The Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO has offered its support for Surface Transportation Board vice chairman Robert Primus, who is seeking to serve a second term on the STB. “During his current term, Mr. Primus has demonstrated an expert understanding of the economic state of the railroad industry, including widespread service and […]
WASHINGTON — A report released today (Thursday, Sept. 8) by the railroads’ trade group, the Association of American Railroads, says a nationwide interruption of rail service could cost more than $2 billion per day. The AAR says the report is based on historical Federal Railroad Administration data — specifically updating a 1992 study to quantify […]
LAKEVILLE, N.Y. — Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroads, which operates three lines in western New York and Pennsylvania, has named Robert Babcock as its president and CEO, effective Sept. 26, 2022. Babcock was most recently general manager, vice president, and senior vice president at the Indiana Rail Road, where he was responsible for train operations, […]
WASHINGTON — In an effort to avert a potential national rail strike, U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh was part of a Wednesday session at the National Mediation Board involving the organization representing railroads in national contract negotiations, as well as eight unions that have not yet reached tentative contract agreements, Politico reports. Negotiators from the […]
The chief executives of CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific say their railroads are on the mend as more newly hired conductors enter active duty, operations are slowly improving, and freight demand remains strong. All three railroads are trying to hire conductors as quickly as possible to help ease crew shortages that have gummed […]
This softcover, perfectbound, 570-page reference book is an index for modeling Baltimore and Ohio locomotives. So, there are no photos therein, and only text. This is not a history book about the B&O, so it’s not the type of publication you’d sit down with a good cup of coffee and immerse yourself in B&O passenger […]
The 310-page book Narrow Gauge in the Tropics is a thorough examination of the railroads in the tropical islands of the Dutch or Netherlands East Indies, capturing the story behind the first railroad in Java where construction began in 1864. Java is the most populous and economically developed of the thousands of the Indian archipelago. […]
LeCLAIRE, Iowa — Another eastern Iowa community has approved an agreement with Canadian Pacific over the railroad’s planned merger with Kansas City Southern, while a city which rejected an earlier offer is now on record opposing the merger. KWQC-TV reports that LeClaire, Iowa, will receive $750,000 to address impacts of the merger under an agreement […]
WASHINGTON — Waste shippers have complained to federal regulators regarding deteriorating service on CSX Transportation in the Northeast. The National Waste & Recycling Association, a trade group representing 70% of the private sector’s waste and recycling market, told the Surface Transportation Board that its members prefer to reach commercial solutions with their rail carriers. “However, […]
WASHINGTON — Five of the seven Class I railroads operating in the U.S. were revenue adequate in 2021, the Surface Transportation Board said on Tuesday. Being revenue adequate means a railroads achieved a rate of return equal to or greater than the board’s calculation of the average cost of capital to the freight rail industry. […]
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — BNSF Railway has reached a tentative agreement with the union representing 500 of regional Montana Rail Link’s 1,200 employees. MRL announced on Jan. 10 that it was terminating its lease with BNSF and that the Class I railroad would resume operations and maintenance of the former Northern Pacific main line [see “Montana […]
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has extended the deadline for environmental comments on the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger. The comment period now will run through Oct. 14 instead of Sept. 26, the STB announced on Tuesday. The STB said no further extensions would be permitted. The board granted the extension to allow […]
