Archive for October 2020
UP’s Vena to become senior adviser, Gehringer named EVP operations
(Source: Progressive Railroading 10/23/2020) Union Pacific Railroad this week announced that Jim Vena, chief operating officer, will transition to a new role by year’s end. He will be succeeded by Eric Gehringer as executive vice president of operations, effective Jan. 1, 2021. Vena will remain employed at the company as senior adviser through June 2021. After…
Read MoreClass I September employment down a bit from August count
(Source: Progressive Railroading 10/21/2020) Class Is as of mid-September employed 118,123 people, down 0.3% from mid-August’s level and down 13.69% from September 2019’s count, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB) data. Four of six employment categories logged decreases last month compared with August. The categories month-to-month decreases were: maintenance of equipment and stores, down 1.6 percent to…
Read MoreSen. Tester condemns “unacceptable” Empire Builder cuts
(Source: Press release from the office of Montana Senator Jon Tester, October 19, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement as Amtrak’s cuts in service to the Empire Builder line, which crosses the entire state of Montana along the Hi-Line, go into effect today. Those cuts reduce the number of trains…
Read MorePresident Pierce urges aid for Amtrak/commuters, condemns PSR at Senate hearing
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, October 21 — BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce testified today before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation at a hearing titled, “Passenger and Freight Rail: The Current Status of the Rail Network and the Track Ahead.” The hearing examined the current state of America’s passenger and freight rail network,…
Read MoreCDC recommends riders, operators wear masks on trains
(Source: Progressive Railroading 10/20/20) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday issued an interim guidance strongly recommending passenger train and subway riders, operators and other crew members wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The guidance recommends people wear masks while waiting for trains or working at stations, and while traveling on trains. The guidance also…
Read More