Friday morning rail news:
— Norfolk Southern has informed customers that Pan Am Railways’ Hoosac Tunnel in Western Massachusetts is now expected to remain out of service until mid-March, following the partial collapse of a wall in the 145-year-old tunnel on Feb. 12. The closure affects the line between Mechanicville, N.Y., and Ayer, Mass.; NS general merchandise traffic to Ayer is operating via a detour, but automotive traffic to Ayer is embarged and intermodal gates are closed to all traffic to and from Ayer. The railroad says shippers should expect delays of 48-72 hours.
— Wyoming’s House of Representatives has passed legislation that would mandate train crews of two or more people on all Class I rail movements in the state. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Stan Blake (D-Green River, Wyo.), a Union Pacific employee, passed 37-22, the Casper Star-Tribune reports.
— DC Metro has received the last two cars in a 748-car equipment order from Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc., WMAU radio reports. Delivery of the 7000-series cars, built in Nebraska, began in 2015; the cars now make up about 60% of Metro’s equipment fleet.
— The former city manager of Lake Forest, Ill., has entered a plea deal that could spare him from felony charges or jail time for unauthorized payments to a lobbying firm, part of an effort to get an Amtrak stop for the Chicago North Shore suburb. Illinois Policy reports that Robert Keily pleaded guilty to one count of attempted official misconduct over the payments of almost $200,000 to the lobbying firm.
Mr. Keiser: Mr. Fegely’s response is correct. And further: when stockholders want more return for their investments (they are not in this game because they love the railroads), a company’s biggest operating expense is salaries and benefits for personnel. So, the search for ways to reduce the payroll is one way to increase profitability.
Mr Keiser probably because the hedge funds, the stock holders an the CEO’s want to fatten there pockets. They don’t see or need the little guys, just the money!
I don’t have any comments about these subjects, but I want to say that I like the “news roundup” you have been doing for many days now. Very informative.
I do not understand why all the industries want to cut jobs. I see it everywhere, labor moves the country, buys the goods, and improves their lives. The bottom line folks are missing the big picture.
The way the U.P. is losing business they won’t have any trains left.
How many trains can UP fit across the Rio Grande to avoid Wyoming?
My thought is that the Illinois Bar Association should be looking at the Lawyer’s conduct.
And as to Wyoming, If something were to occur on a train with a single crew person, how long would it take to get assistance. Too much open space with little population. What might be an injury in the East or in populated areas would more likely be a fatality in much of Wyoming.
As if most legislation introduced by politicians, but written by, and paid for by lobbyists, isn’t a conflict of interest???
Definitely a conflict of interest. This legislation should never have been allowed to reach the floor. It is probably moot anyway though as the federal government regulates the railroads not the states. Just political pandering from another bottom-feeder.
I suspect most commenters in this space are skeptical about one-person crews on Class 1 mainlines, but setting that aside – does anyone else have their conflict of interest alarm go off when a UP conductor who is also a citizen-legislator sponsors a bill requiring two-person crews in their state?
(the Trains summary identifies Representative Blake as a UP employee; his own web page identifies him as a conductor)