Information of interest to operating railroad and transportation employees

For

For Wednesday, February 25, 1998

CLEVELAND – In its post-hearing brief, the United Transportation Union (UTU) reaffirmed its position that the AFL-CIO should defer ruling on an Article XX charge filed by the BLE until after the National Mediation Board (NMB) ruling on the matter.

In addition, the UTU established that an ebb and flow existed on the Union Pacific because of a mandatory line of progression for post-1985 operating employees. In an ironic twist of testimony, BLE witness Dennis Simmerman upheld the UTU’s position. Simmerman confirmed UTU Assistant President Byron Boyd’s testimony that the 1972 UTU National Training Agreement is the only agreement applicable to the training of engineers on the UP.

The UTU also said that "consolidation of the operating crafts has occurred on the UP" in the context of the RLA, where "organization is along craft or class lines rather than by bargaining unit." This is the reason why UTU "seeks a consolidation finding from the NMB" and asks the AFL-CIO to wait until the NMB rules.

In speaking to its Article XX countercharge against the BLE, the UTU said the BLE had insufficient reason to attempt to raid its members simply because of the NMB application on the UP. UTU said that it is equally justifiable to find a violation of Section 2 where "the leadership clearly directs its membership to accomplish obviously impermissible solicitation." The BLE, therefore, should be found guilty of Article XX violations.

FRA says CSX puts train operations ahead of safety

WASHINGTON – CSX Corp.’s rail subsidiary puts train operations ahead of safety, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) said Tuesday.

A 90-day audit of CSX uncovered "key operational flaws" in many critical areas, including transport of hazardous materials, signal and train-control systems, and locomotive-inspection repair, said FRA Administrator Jolene Molitoris.

FRA inspectors received many reports of harassment and intimidation when employees raised safety issues. Inspectors also detected failures to report accidents to the government.

"Inspectors in many areas found an atmosphere at CSXT in which field managers consistently failed to demonstrate a full commitment to safety," the FRA’s report said. "It was reported to FRA inspectors that CSXT front-line managers emphasized train operations over safety considerations."

A CSX spokesman denied there was a company culture that gave short shrift to safety. The FRA deployed a group of 75 federal and state inspectors throughout the 18,500-mile CSX freight system following a series of major accidents.

Major rail project planned to tap Wyoming’s Power River Basin coal fields

WASHINGTON – A $1.4 billion rail construction project to build 280 miles of track has been proposed to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) so the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad Company (DME) can tap the richest traffic vein in railroading, Wyoming’s Powder River Basin (PRB) coal fields.

If constructed, this project would be the largest project of its kind in the 20^th Century. The last time a project of this type was built was in the 1920s when the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad was built across Indiana and Illinois. The DME would be in direct competition with UP and BNSF.

The privately held DME, based in Brookings, S.D., has asked the STB to endorse a plan that would let the carrier tap the large demand for PRB coals, which has more than doubled in the last decade. The region’s 200 million plus tons of rail freight last year is the industry’s largest single freight source.

The main rout is a 262-mile shipper short cut from Western South Dakota through the Black Hills to 11 mines in the southern part of the PRB. A more direct route over the DME in the upper Midwest could cut shipper costs for utility customers because the new route would be 375 miles (30%) shorter than the current route.

The project lacks a funding source at this time as well as commercial agreements with railroads to deliver coal originated by DME. Also, a coalition of local ranchers has organized to oppose concerned about environmental damage.

UP asks STB to extend emergency order

HOUSTON -- Union Pacific Railroad has asked the Surface Transportation Board for additional time to clean up its massive congestion problems. In a letter to the STB, the UP asked for a 60-day extension to an emergency order that expires on March 15.

STB has the power to give UP more time. An emergency order can last up to 270 days, and March 15 will be half that amount of time.

AMTRAK buys $100 million of new rail equipment for California

LOS ANGELES – Amtrak’s is buying $100 million of new passenger trains for the San Diegan, the carrier’s second busiest corridor. Serving 1.6 million passengers annually, this purchase is the largest AMTRAK has ever made in California.

A contract to manufacture eight new five-car train sets was awarded to GEC Alsthom Transportation. The new trains will begin servicing the San Diegans in early 2000. The new dual-level train sets will include on Custom Class Car, one Coach/Café Car, two Coach Cars, and one Coach/Baggage/Cab Car for a total of 425 seats.

New refrigerated boxcars will be tested on UP

OMAHA – Union Pacific Railroad will begin in March an 18-month performance test of so-called next-generation "reefers", refrigerated boxcars among shippers of perishable products.

Trinity Industries and Hardcore DuPont Composites teamed up with UP to design and build the first new refrigerated boxcar since 1971. The new reefers increase by 40 percent payload capacity and nearly double the shippers’ cubic capacity. This equipment will feature Thermo King "Smart Reefer" refrigeration units.