Archive for April 2019
Union Pacific “pauses” construction of new $550 million Texas rail yard
(Source: Dallas Morning News, April 20, 2019) DALLAS — Union Pacific is “pausing” construction of its new $550 million rail yard in Texas. The Omaha, Neb.-based company said it will shift the money it committed this year to the Brazos project to instead make improvements to its 760-mile line running from El Paso to Los…
Read MorePortland activists block rail line at Zenith oil terminal
(Source: Portland Tribune, April 21, 2019) PORTLAND, Ore. — Operations at Oregon’s only crude oil export terminal went off the rails on Earth Day weekend — after activists blocked all train traffic leading to the Northwest Portland facility. Extinction Rebellion protesters dumped topsoil and planted a “Victory over fossil fuels Garden” on and adjacent to…
Read MoreShippers: Show us the benefits of PSR
(Source: Freight Waves column by Jim Blaze, April 16, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Precision scheduled railroading (PSR) promised scheduled rail freight operations resulting in more than a financial gain for a railroad and its investors. The business theory is that operating efficiencies reduce costs and that improved rail discipline improves shipper service. Where is the…
Read MoreTrain crew bill A.B. 337 brings back what Nevada already had
By Jason Doering and Matthew Parker INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, April 15 — All day, every day, through cities, rural areas and everywhere in between, in Nevada as well as around our country, freight trains are rolling. In many cases, they’re the only practical way to safely transport hazardous chemicals, oil, hazardous waste, consumer goods, and vehicles…
Read MoreOver-Reacting in a Discipline Case
(Source: Conference Reporter Newsletter 04/18/2019) At the Tampa conference last month, four labor arbitrators discussed a case in which the employer – a bank – disciplined an employee for using offensive language (the F word) toward a co-worker and for bullying her. The discussion focused on the proper level of discipline. The arbitrators felt management…
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