NEW YORK – Investors who have launched shareholder resolutions seeking paid sick time for railroad employees say that the lack of paid sick days endangers workers’ health, threatens the economy, and has made it harder for railroads to retain their unionized employees. Activist investors today filed the non-binding shareholder resolutions requesting that Union Pacific and […]
Train Topic: Rail Industry
Massachusetts, Amtrak, CSX pursue grant for East-West Rail improvements
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Amtrak, and CSX Transportation are seeking $108 million in federal grants to improve the rail line between Springfield and Worcester, Mass., as part of the proposed East-West Rail project. The three entities announced the grant application Friday, MassLive.com reports, with the goal of adding two daily Amtrak […]
News photos: Siemens Amtrak car heads to Canada for testing
A single Siemens Venture car, part of the Amtrak Midwest operations, traveled over Canadian Pacific and Canadian National lines in Ontario on Saturday, Dec. 3., en route from Sacramento, Calif., to Canada’s National Research Uplands Campus in Ottawa for testing The special train, Union Pacific SD70ACe No. 8821 and the Siemens car, SIIX 4301, is […]
Biden signs bill preventing nationwide railroad strike
Railroad employees picket outside the North American Rail Shippers conference in Kansas City on May 10, 2022. Trains: David Lassen WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden today signed legislation averting a railroad strike that would have shut down the national freight network and snarled Amtrak and commuter service. “Our nation’s rail system is literally the backbone […]
Senate approves legislation to impose rail labor settlement (updated)
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate has passed legislation this afternoon (Thursday, Dec. 1) imposing a settlement in the labor dispute between railroads and unions, foreclosing the possibility of a national rail strike as soon as Dec. 9. President Joe Biden said he will sign the bill into law “as soon as Congress sends it to […]
Aberdeen Carolina & Western to acquire leased trackage from Norfolk Southern
WASHINGTON — Independent North Carolina short line Aberdeen Carolina & Western will acquire the 104 miles of track it has leased from Norfolk Southern since 1989. The Piedmont Subdivision runs from milepost 282.63 in Gulf, N.C., to milepost 386.91 in Charlotte. The deal, outlined in a regulatory filing with the Surface Transportation Board, is expected […]
Holiday week sees significant drop in U.S. rail traffic
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic showed a significant drop for the week ending Nov. 26, a week including the Thanksgiving holiday, according to the latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads. Overall traffic was 413,305 carloads and intermodal units, a 4.1% drop from the corresponding week in 2021. That included 206,792 carloads, a 1.1% […]
IT firm CGI to manage new VIA Rail Canada reservation system
MONTREAL — Information technology and business consulting firm CGI will manage a new online reservation system for VIA Rail Canada to be launched in 2023, the companies announced Wednesday. Under a long-term agreement, CGI will manage critical business applications, building on the business relationship that began in 2020 when CGI was selected to build VIA’s […]
Union Pacific says congestion-related embargoes are a tool of last resort
MANALAPAN, Fla. – Union Pacific, which has come under fire for its increased use of embargoes, has not fully shut down service to any customers as it grapples with congestion related to ongoing train crew shortages. “It really is a tool of last resort for us. As a common carrier, we don’t have other mechanisms […]
House passes resolutions to block rail strike, add sick days to agreement
WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives has approved legislation imposing the tentative agreement between railroads and unions, which would block a rail strike that could begin as early as Dec. 9. CNN reports the House passed the measure by a 290-137 vote, with 79 Republicans joining Democrats in voting for the bill, while eight Democrats […]
British passenger equipment company files for insolvency protection
SOUTHAM, England — Vivarail, the British passenger train re-manufacturing company majority-owned by Pittsburgh-based Railroad Development Corp., has announced it is seeking the appointment of insolvency administrators via the British courts while efforts are made to find new investors or owners for the company. The process, similar to Chapter 11 protection in the USA, will allow […]
House to vote today on legislation to block rail strike (updated)
WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives will vote today (Wednesday, Nov. 30) on legislation to impose a settlement in the labor dispute between railroads and unions, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday. The House will also consider a separate motion to add seven paid sick days to the tentative agreement reached in September between the […]