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President Pierce urges aid for Amtrak/commuters, condemns PSR at Senate hearing

October 21, 2020

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,…

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On the 40th anniversary of the Staggers Act, Congress should consider the collateral damage to the rail industry, and how to fix it

October 20, 2020

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, October 19 — Over the last several years, railroad industry stakeholders have become increasingly troubled by the effects of the new business model adopted by the Class I railroads. This so-called “precision scheduled railroading” focuses extensively on cost-cutting as a primary objective. Rail shippers complain of a deterioration of service and “de-marketing” of…

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Weekly U.S. coal train loadings rise to seven-week high: STB

October 19, 2020

(Source: S&P Global Platts, October 16, 2020) HOUSTON — U.S. coal train loadings rose to a seven-week high in the week ended Oct. 9, as loadings from all four major basins increased on the week, Surface Transportation Board data showed Oct. 16. Full story: S&P Global Platts Monday, October 19, 2020

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Metra sues UP for breach of contract

October 15, 2020

(Source: Metra press release, October 14, 2020) CHICAGO — Metra today sued Union Pacific Railroad for breach of contract, accusing the freight railroad of severely damaging Metra’s bottom line, reputation and customer experience by an “arbitrary and capricious” refusal to deploy its conductors on the three lines that UP owns and operates in the Metra system.…

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