Rail Industry News
Norfolk Southern reports Q2 2024 results
Operating income was up 96%, to $1.1 billion, as revenue grew 2%, to $3 billion.
Union Pacific reports Q2 2024 results
Quarterly operating income increased 9%, to $2.4 billion, as revenue grew 1%, to $6 billion. Earnings per share rose 7%, to $2.74. UP’s operating ratio improved 3 points, to 60%.
Vance pick for VP muddies push for rail safety bill
Election-year politics combined with a tight legislative schedule are complicating the effort to pass rail safety legislation stemming from last year’s East Palestine, Ohio, derailment.
NJ Transit strike averted for now
BLET Vice President Jim Louis explains what engineers are seeking in a contract settlement.
NJ Transit — almost on brink of a rail strike — asks Biden to intervene
NJ Transit officials asked President Joe Biden to form a Presidential Emergency Board, a move heading off a potential rail strike by locomotive engineers and trainmen that could have crippled the daily commute.
Teamsters endorse Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2024
“The Teamsters Union proudly support the Railroad Safety Enhancement Act, and the essential requirements it includes,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien.
Lawmakers introduce new bipartisan bill to push rail safety after East Palestine
The legislation was introduced by Railroads Subcommittee Chair Troy Nehls, R-Texas, and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and includes U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall, as a co-sponsor.
Rushed railcar inspections and ‘stagnated’ safety record reinforce concerns after fiery Ohio crash
Major freight railroads are rushing railcar inspections, reinforcing known safety concerns raised by unions for years, but at a House hearing Tuesday they’ll present new evidence from federal inspectors that railcar checks are routinely less than two minutes per car.
NTSB releases final report on Lou Shuster fatality
NTSB determined that the probable cause of the March 7, 2023, Norfolk Southern Railway employee fatality was the crew not following Norfolk Southern Operating Rule 120 requiring a member of the crew to be on the ground at the private highway-railroad grade crossing to warn traffic.
BNSF accuses teenage rail enthusiast of derailing train, filming it
The teenager allegedly filmed the derailment as it happened and later posted it on YouTube.
T&E headcount up from a year ago, but below 2019
Three of the big four U.S. railroads now employ more engineers and conductors than they did a year ago, but headcount is still mostly below pre-pandemic 2019.
BNSF deals with derailments in Kansas, Minnesota
The first was reported at approximately 12:46 a.m. near Ottawa, Kan., while the second was reported at approximately 3:16 a.m. at Big Lake, Minn.
NTSB has pushed for railroad safety for decades. Making the changes can take just as long.
The NTSB, an independent investigative agency, can’t force railroads to put their safety recommendations into place. As a result, unfulfilled safety recommendations can linger for decades, while the same problems contribute to incident after incident.
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending July 13, 2024
Total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 483,806 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.3 percent compared with the same week last year.
Heat disrupts rail service along Northeast Corridor
Extreme heat is taking its toll on rail transportation along the Northeast Corridor, with transit agencies and Amtrak all feeling the impact and taking operational measures.
House T&I Committee to host July 23 hearing on rail safety
An in-depth examination of nationwide freight rail policy is on a House committee’s agenda before lawmakers leave Washington for the August recess.
EPA watchdog investigating delays in how the agency used sensor plane after fiery Ohio derailment
The EPA’s Inspector General is investigating why the agency didn’t get its specialized plane loaded with advanced sensors into the air over East Palestine until four days after the disastrous Norfolk Southern derailment last year.
FRA encourages railroads to make better use of hot bearing detector data
The safety agency has updated an advisory issued last year in the wake of the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment
New STB chair orders rail CEOs to attend forum on declining volumes
Robert Primus, the new chairman of the US Surface Transportation Board (STB), has set a two-day hearing for September 16 and 17 at STB HQ in Washington, D.C.
House bill would enhance safety requirements for hazmat trains
H.R. 8996 would incorporate aspects of freight-rail safety legislation introduced last year by U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), but also would set federal limits on freight-train lengths.
BLET News
Senator Bernie Sanders to address BLET members on July 29
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) will address BLET members during a welcome reception at the union’s Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington, D.C., on Monday, July 29. If time permits, the Senator plans to engage in a question and answer session. Senator Sanders...
Operation RedBlock reaches 40-year milestone anniversary
Over the last four decades, Operation RedBlock has proven essential, especially given the highly unpredictable nature of employee schedules in the rail industry. ____________________ The railroad industry’s leading peer-based substance abuse prevention program turns...
Daughter of BLET member a candidate for Congress in Maryland
Sarah Elfreth (center) meets with BLET Director of Political Affairs Brendan Sullivan (left) and BLET VP and NLR Vince Verna (right) ____________________ The BLET is backing the candidacy of Sarah Elfreth — the daughter of a retired BLET member — in the upcoming...
PEB 251 established to settle ongoing BLET-NJ Transit contract dispute
President Joseph R. Biden Jr. appointed Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) No. 251 to investigate the collective bargaining dispute between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and New Jersey Transit (NJT). Pursuant to the Railway Labor Act...
Take Action! Don’t let the budget axe fall on Railroad Retirement
BLET members and their families are urged to keep the pressure on Congress to avoid potentially catastrophic budget cuts to the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). Please use the Take Action area of the BLET website to contact Congress today, especially if you are...
Amtrak: BLET says carrier should put money into repairs, not executive bonuses
Days before widespread failures at Amtrak this summer, it was revealed that top executives received millions in bonuses in 2023. Photo courtesy of Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659 ____________________ It’s been a rough summer for Amtrak. Major electrical problems in the...
Capitol Hill: Rail safety bills back in the spotlight
The nomination of Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) as the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States has put the Railway Safety Act (S. 576) back into the spotlight. Meanwhile, new legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would make C3RS...
Ohio: Division Legislative Representatives complete training
From left: Sam Schatz, Div. 447; John Peter, Div. 894; Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (District 23, Lakewood); John Esterly, Ohio SLB Chairman; Bruce Tatgenhorst, Div. 255; and Kevin Helton, Div. 292. ____________________ During the week of June 24-28, the...
Jim and Debbie Keele mark 50-years of membership
Jim and Debbie Keele at the 2024 BLET Western Regional Meeting in Kansas City. ____________________ Congratulations to retired BLET member Jim Keele and his wife Debbie, who are celebrating three milestone anniversaries this year: Brother Jim is a 50-year member of...
Breaking News: BLET members ratify new contract with SEPTA
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen today ratified a new three-year contract with SEPTA. An impressive 87 percent of eligible voters cast ballots, with 94 percent voting in favor. The contract provides numerous improvements for BLET...
