Former BNSF Exec Joins CN Board (Updated with TCI Response)
CN—dealing with activist investor TCI , its four Board of Director candidates and proposed new CEO—has appointed Jo-ann dePass Olsovsky to serve on the Board, effective immediately.
BNSF
NTSB Issues Preliminary Report on Amtrak Empire Builder Derailment (UPDATED)
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report on its investigation into the Sept. 25 derailment of Amtrak’s Empire Builder train 7/27 near Joplin, Mont.
For LRW, New Education, Membership Deputies
The League of Railway Women (LRW) has added BNSF Logistics’ Vickie Vaughn and Trinity Industries’ Shundrekia Stewart to its Board of Directors; they will serve as Deputy Chairs of Education and Membership, respectively.
For UP, BNSF, California Ports, New Measures to Restore Supply Chain Fluidity
Union Pacific (UP) and BNSF are offering their ocean carrier customers incentives to expedite the flow of freight out of the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles; meanwhile, the two California ports on Nov. 1 will start charging ocean carriers a daily fee for containers that linger on terminals.
Commentary
Decision Handed Down in UP-Metra Dispute
Judge pronounces common carrier obligation for “commuter rail” dead.
Amtrak Empire Builder Derailment Investigation Under Way, Montana Track Reopens (Updated Sept. 29)
Amtrak’s Empire Builder train 7/27 traveling westbound from Chicago to Seattle/Portland on Sept. 25 derailed near Joplin, Mont., at 3:55 p.m. MT. The passenger train was traveling between 75-78 mph, below the 79 mph speed limit, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported on Sept. 27 during its first media briefing.
Minneapolis’ Metro Blue Line Extension Moving Ahead
Minnesota’s Hennepin County Board of Commissioners has approved a contract with the Center of Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) to establish an Anti-Displacement Workgroup that will help advance the Metro Blue Line Extension LRT project in Minneapolis; construction, however, is still many years away.
Gonzales Appointed TTCI’s Next President
Kari Gonzales is the new leader of Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI); the Board of Directors selected her following nearly three months of service as acting President.
Commentary
BNSF Testing Lab: Choosing the Right (and Safe) Materials
We all remember the beginning of COVID shutdowns and empty store shelves last year. Cleaning and disinfecting products were some of the hardest to find. Like most Americans, the team at BNSF had to change course quickly to secure an adequate supply of those elusive items.
STB: Five Class I’s Revenue Adequate for 2020
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has found five of the seven U.S. Class I railroads to be revenue adequate for 2020: BNSF, CSX, Kansas City Southern, Soo Line (the U.S. affiliate of Canadian Pacific) and Union Pacific.