BLET News

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, June 21 —Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson recently signed into law a BLET-backed bill that imposes harsher penalties on criminals who target railroad workers. Act 955 is designed “to protect freight rail employees and public transit employees by enhancing the penalties of certain criminal offenses.” Introduced as Arkansas House Bill 2116 on March 6,…

(Source: Railway-Technology.com, June 26, 2017) CHICAGO — As North America’s single largest rail hub, Chicago handles roughly 25% of nationwide rail traffic between the country’s east and west coasts, as well as to the southern US and Canada. Approximately 500 freight trains operate in the Chicago area every day, carrying a third of all American…

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, June 16 — On June 8, 2017, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval vetoed a railroad safety bill that would have mandated a minimum crew size for freight trains operating in the state. The measure (S.B. 427) would have restored to Nevada law a provision for minimum freight train crew size, insuring that no freight…

(Source: Houston Chronicle, June 12, 2017) HOUSTON — Crude coming from the Canadian oil sands faces pipeline congestion on its way to the Gulf Coast, forcing production companies to opt for more expensive rail transport instead. Full story: Houston Chronicle Tuesday, June 13, 2017

(Source: Associated Press, June 13, 2017) THE DALLES, Ore. — A board has affirmed an Oregon county’s decision to deny Union Pacific Railroad’s proposed track expansion along the Columbia River where an oil train derailed last year. The Columbia River Gorge Commission on Tuesday found Wasco County commissioners had evidence to reject the railroad’s application.…