Rail & Labor News from RWU
Weekly Digest Number 14 - April 06, 2021
Amtrak, railroads respond to Biden's infrastructure plan
President Joe Biden yesterday formally unveiled his American Jobs Plan and infrastructure proposal, which calls for the federal government to invest billions in the nation's transportation networks, including $85 billion for transit and another $80 billion designated specifically for rail.
The federal money would expand access to Amtrak and bus service, with the aim of connecting more cities and reducing road congestion and carbon emissions.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The proposed merger of the CP and KCS continues to dominate rail industry news.
Canadian Pacific, Kansas City Southern Receive Widespread Support for Creating First U.S.-Mexico-Canada Rail Network
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited and Kansas City Southern today announced they have received statements from nearly 260 shippers, other railroads, economic development authorities, ports, and other supporters for their planned combination that would create the first rail network connecting the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
Many of these supporters requested the Surface Transportation Board ("STB") to review the transaction as swiftly as possible so the systems could be integrated and the end-to-end benefits of this combination can be realized for the benefit of all stakeholders. The statements and letters were filed with the STB.
BMWED seeks National Director of Organizing
The BMWED-IBT National Division Headquarters is seeking applicants for the position of Director of Organizing. 
The position will be headquartered in the BMWED-IBT National Division Novi, Michigan Office.
Candidates must excel in their attention to detail and accuracy, be driven, self-motivated, organized, and committed to the ideals and goals of organized labor and the BMWED.
Cause of two Roanoke Valley train derailments released in accident report 
Nearly 6 months after the first train derailment in the Roanoke Valley in 2020, the cause of both incidents is now known. 
KEY BILLS INTRODUCED THAT INTEND TO BOOST TRANSPORTATION SAFETY IN NORTH CAROLINA
Legislators in both the North Carolina state House and Senate have introduced bills to keep freight rail operations on the state’s more than 3,300 miles of track running safely and efficiently. A bus safety bill is also in the works in the state.
H.B. 408 and S. 348 require a crew of at least two qualified people in the operating locomotive of trains transporting cargo and hazardous materials in the state for public safety. 
U.S. rail traffic gains continued in Week 12
For the week ending March 27, U.S. weekly rail traffic totaled 521,731 carloads and intermodal units, up 16.1% compared with the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data. 
Comparisons of the current week with the same week in 2020 are inflated because of the widespread economy-wide shutdowns — and subsequent large reduction in rail volumes — that occurred last year at this time, AAR officials said in a press release.
CABT, rail groups ask Congress to oppose looser limits on truck size
The Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT) urged Congress to refrain from loosening truck-size and weight limits when it considers infrastructure legislation this year.
In a letter to Senate and House leaders of transportation committees, CABT officials asked lawmakers to oppose any legislation that would increase maximum truck length or weight limits on federal highways. In addition, the coalition asked that legislation that would exempt individual states or commodities from federal truck-weight or length restrictions also be opposed.

CN Reaches Deal to Sell 650 Miles of Railroad Track in Northern Wisconsin and the U.P. to WATCO
Canadian National Railroad announced Tuesday it reached an agreement with WATCO to sell nearly a thousand miles of tracks.
250 miles of the track runs from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario to Oba, Ontario. It includes 650 miles of branch lines of Wisconsin Central Ltd. in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula.
CN said this marks the successful conclusion of the sale process that CN announced and launched in July of 2020.
Headcount among US Class I railroads up slightly in February
Headcount among the U.S. Class I railroads rose nominally between January and February but declined nearly 11% year-over-year, according to data submitted to the Surface Transportation Board (STB).
The year-over-year drop in February comes as labor unions are watching how a proposed merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern would affect the employees working for both companies
Two major shareholders in Canadian Pacific Railway, Kansas City Southern will vote for US$25-billion takeover
Two large shareholders in Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. and Kansas City Southern Railway say they will vote for the US$25.2-billion takeover by the Calgary freight hauler.
The boards of the railways have agreed on a takeover by CP, a deal that requires majority support from the shareholders of both companies at coming votes, in addition to U.S. and Mexican regulatory approval.
Advocates want to revive America's rail lines
A Montana town saw a decline in population and many job cuts after losing its Amtrak service 40 years ago. Now Amtrak's CEO promises a "visionary plan" to expand service nationwide. CBS News' Errol Barnett reports.
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