BLET News
Should the rail industry look beyond operating ratio?
(Source: Freight Waves, April 11, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — With almost all of the Class I railroads transitioning to precision scheduling railroading (PSR), an operational model that emphasizes running railcars on a fixed schedule, a question surfacing within the rail industry is how much emphasis should the railroads place on lower operating ratio. Full story: Freight…
Read MorePlan to ship natural gas by rail raises alarm
(Source: Fortune, April 11, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump wants to allow natural gas to be shipped in railroad cars, a move that would open new markets hungry for the fuel but could risk catastrophic accidents if one were to derail. Trump on Wednesday ordered the Transportation Department to write a new rule…
Read MoreLawmakers seek to mandate two-person crews on freight trains
(Source: Safety and Health Magazine, April 10, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Legislation reintroduced by Rep. Don Young (R-AK) on March 13 would require at least two certified crew members on all freight trains operated in the United States. “Requiring a second crew member aboard a train to help share the operational workload is a commonsense…
Read MoreDeadlines approaching for BLET regional meeting in St. Louis
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, April 12 — As a reminder, registration is ongoing for the BLET regional meeting at the Hilton at the Ballpark in St. Louis, Mo., June 24-28, 2019. The deadline to make hotel reservations is May 2, and the last day to register for the regional meeting is May 22. Guests will stay at…
Read MoreBNSF, UP operations mostly back to normal in Nebraska after flooding
(Source: Lincoln Journal Star, April 9, 2019) LINCOLN, Neb. — Both BNSF Railway and Union Pacific have reopened all their tracks in Nebraska and the surrounding area with the exception of lines that go from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Kansas City. Full story: Lincoln Journal Star Wednesday, April 10, 2019
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