Daily Headlines
AAR reports rail traffic for the week ending May 4, 2024
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 463,106 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.0 percent compared with the same week last year.
Activist investor wins 3 Norfolk Southern board seats but won’t have control to fire CEO
Norfolk Southern’s CEO will be under more pressure to improve profits after the railroad’s shareholders voted Thursday to elect three of the board members an activist investor nominated, but he won’t be fired right away.
BNSF Q1 2024 earnings decline as coal volume plunges, intermodal traffic soars
BNSF Railway’s first-quarter earnings and revenue declined despite a 7% increase in freight volume.
Shippers express disappointment with STB reciprocal switching rule
The Surface Transportation Board’s reciprocal switching rule for inadequate rail service is a “missed opportunity,” the National Industrial Transportation League says.
What the proxy fight at Norfolk Southern means for railroad safety
Just more than a year after a massive derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train led to the release of tank cars full of toxic chemicals and increased attention to the issue of railroad safety, the control of the railroad is up for grabs at its annual meeting Thursday.
Union Pacific CEO advocates seamless border operations at Mexico gateways
Freight train operations across the U.S.-Mexican border should be as seamless as they are across the U.S.-Canadian border, Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena told a shipper group last week.
NS shareholders to decide today whether to back investors who want to fire the CEO
Norfolk Southern shareholders will decide Thursday morning (May 9) whether to back an activist investor’s bid to take over the railroad’s board and replace management.
Train Dispatchers, FRA, BNSF partner on C3RS pilot program
In a win for rail safety and rail workers, the FRA announced that the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) and BNSF Railway will partner with FRA to join a pilot program of the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS).
STB’s Oberman sets May 10 date for retirement
Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman announced that he will retire from the Board on May 10, 2024.
White House to nominate Clegg, Batory for Amtrak Board of Directors
President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Elaine Marie Clegg and Ronald L. Batory to be Members of the Amtrak Board of Directors.
NTSB issues preliminary report on UP track worker fatality
The NTSB report says the incident came after the victim walked near the tread on the south side of the excavator; the machine’s operator was in the process of moving ballast when the bucket struck the manager; he was pinned between the bucket and body of the machine, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
UP undermined FRA safety culture assessment
The meddling was so widespread across Union Pacific’s 23-state network that the Federal Railroad Administration had no choice but to suspend its safety assessment of the company.
Teamsters Canada members vote to authorize strike at CN, CPKC
Unless parties can reach an agreement, a work stoppage can occur as early as May 22, at 00:01.
Union Pacific’s Q1 2024 profit up 1% as railroad limits expenses
Union Pacific said it made $1.64 billion, or $2.69 per share, in the first quarter of 2024. That’s higher than last year’s $1.63 billion, or $.2.67 per share.
NS Q1 2024 earnings offer railroad a chance to defend its strategy ahead of control vote
Norfolk Southern confirmed the $53 million, or 23 cents per share, that it earned in the first quarter.
CPKC says longer hauls helped propel Q1 2024 earnings
On a combined basis — which estimates the effects of the CP-KCS merger as if it had become effective on Jan. 1, 2023, instead of April 14, 2023 — CPKC’s operating income was flat, at $1.2 billion, as revenue increased 2%, to $3.5 billion.
New Jersey Rep. Donald Payne Jr. dies at 65
The BLET mourns the passing of Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr. (D-NJ), a staunch advocate for rail safety who served as Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials.
Jury: BNSF contributed to 2 asbestos-related deaths in Montana
A federal jury on Monday said BNSF Railway contributed to the deaths of two people who were exposed to asbestos decades ago when tainted mining material was shipped through a Montana town where thousands have been sickened.
AAR reports rail traffic for the week ending April 13, 2024
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 466,463 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.5 percent compared with the same week last year.
CSX profit drops 10% in Q1 2024; CEO says Baltimore bridge collapse will reduce Q2 revenue by about $25 million per month
The railroad said on April 17 that it earned $893 million, or 46 cents per share, in the first three months of the year as it handled 3% more freight. That’s down from $987 million, or 48 cents per share, a year ago.
BLET News
Philadelphia: BLET reaches tentative agreement with SEPTA
The BLET has reached a tentative contract with SEPTA, and ballots were mailed today to eligible members who operate regional rail trains for the transit agency. The tentative three-year contract would run from March 3, 2023 to March 2, 2026. Among other gains, the...
BLET cites PSR and corporate greed as NTSB issues final report on East Palestine derailment
These Brothers represented BLET at the NTSB board meeting in East Palestine on June 25 (from left): Director of Political Affairs Brendan Sullivan; National VP & NLR Vince Verna; National VP and STF Chairman Randy Fannon, STF National Coordinator Brian Fransen,...
Pharmacy benefit manager to change for BLET members beginning in 2025
All individuals under the National Railroad Health and Welfare (GA-23000) Plan will have their Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) changed effective January 1, 2025. The Plans will switch from Express Scripts, Inc. to Optum Rx. All covered members, eligible spouses and...
Spradlin reelected KCS General Chairman
David Spradlin (front row, 2nd from left) was reelected GC of the Kansas City Southern GCA at their quadrennial meeting this week. ___________________ David Spradlin was reelected as Chairman during the Kansas City Southern / Louisiana & Arkansas Railway General...
Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern: BLET members vote to ratify tentative agreement
BLET members have voted to ratify a tentative contract agreement with the Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern Railroad (CF&E). This on-property agreement will govern rates of pay, benefits and work rules for 45 operating employees. The five-year deal will run...
William Wallace elected new Chairman of UP-Western Region GCA as Leyshon retires
Newly elected GC William Wallace (front row, center) with members at the UP-Western Region GCA quadrennial meeting. He replaces the retiring Steve Leyshon (front row, 2nd from left). __________________ William Wallace of BLET Division 362 was elected as the new...
Message to the Membership: From President Eddie Hall on the 2024 Eastern Regional Meeting
Brothers and Sisters, I want to express my gratitude following the Western Regional Meeting in Kansas City and thank everyone who attended. You all are the Union, and I was delighted to host the meeting. I want to invite you and your families to our Eastern Regional...
A strike can happen at NJ Transit as soon as July 25
30-day “cooling-off” period begins today as NMB releases BLET from mediation Today, the National Mediation Board (NMB), the federal agency that regulates labor relations for railroads and airlines, has granted release to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and...
California: BLET reaches tentative agreement with PHL
The BLET has reached a tentative contract with the Pacific Harbor Line (PHL). Ballots for a vote on a tentative agreement governing rates of pay for approximately 150 members were mailed on Friday, June 21. If ratified by the membership, the agreement would run...
East Palestine: NTSB to announce final findings, probable cause, and recommendations
On Tuesday, June 25, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold a public meeting regarding the 2023 East Palestine train derailment and subsequent hazardous material release and fires. During the hearing, NTSB board members will vote on the findings,...
