Daily Headlines
New Jersey lawmakers look to limit high hazard freight trains
Ray Vigil, Chairman of the BLET New Jersey State Legislative Board, testified on behalf of BLET.
CSX CEO Hinrichs encourages railroads to work together and set higher service standards
Regarding the way Class I railroads treat their employees, Hinrichs said: “In a decade we changed… from being one of the most desired jobs to have, to people not recommending their sons, daughters, and nieces and nephews to even consider it.”
Engineers for SEPTA Regional Rail vote to authorize strike
BLET Vice President James P. Louis told SEPTA board members last week that the agency’s engineers and trainmen are the lowest paid in the industry.
Unions are the strongest in decades, nearly a million Americans got double digit raises in 2023 as a result
Nearly 900,000 Americans sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner this week will have unions – and the double-digit pay increases they won – to thank.
People impacted by NS derailment in East Palestine have Thanksgiving meal
Family and friends whose lives have been turned upside down after the toxic East Palestine Norfolk Southern train derailment more than nine months ago shared a Thanksgiving meal together on Tuesday.
911 call center says it misidentified crossing before derailment of Chicago bound Amtrak train
As a result, the train’s engineer had no warning about the stranded vehicle until it came into view at some point before the crash. Six people were taken to the hospital.
FRA issues Safety Advisory on weather-related accidents/incidents
According to FRA, there have been 123 such accidents/incidents since 2021.
STB extends deadline for feedback on reciprocal switching rule
The new deadline is December 20, 2023.
Mexico issues decree forcing private freight railway lines to give preference to passenger service
Mexico’s government issued a decree Monday that will force private freight railway lines to give preference to passenger train service over their normal freight runs.
Union Pacific fired him rather than heed his warnings of dangerous rail conditions
“If you keep reporting these track defects, you will no longer have a job at Union Pacific.”
STB Chairman Oberman will not seek reappointment
Oberman used his position as a bully pulpit to criticize railroads and encourage them to reach their potential by hauling more of the nation’s freight.
TSB to investigate collision involving two BNSF trains in metro Vancouver
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board says it is sending an investigator to probe a train collision and derailment in Metro Vancouver.
Video: Could Florida’s Brightline be a model for high-speed rail in U.S.?
A rail line linking two popular Thanksgiving destinations, Miami and Orlando, is giving Florida its first taste of the potential for how high-speed rail could change holiday travel.
Class I executives outline plans to bolster rail service
The ongoing theme of improving rail service as a means to capture market share away from trucking again appeared in comments from Class I railroad executives speaking at recent investor conferences.
Freight rail execs seeing some “green shoots” for beleaguered sector
Some attendees at a rail conference hosted by Freight Waves were cautiously optimistic that bad years may be behind the industry.
NS train hits CSX train at Atlanta yard, leading to derailment and fire
A collision between Norfolk Southern and CSX trains led to a derailment and fire this morning at CSX’s Howells Yard in northwest Atlanta.
NTSB investigators focus on “design problem” with braking system after Chicago commuter train crash
Federal safety officials investigating a Chicago commuter train crash that injured nearly 40 people when it slammed into snow-removal equipment are focusing on a “design problem” with its braking system.
Truck driver killed in NS rail yard accident on Chicago’s South Side
One person was killed and emergency crews were responding after a freight train struck a semi truck that was stopped on the Norfolk Southern railyard tracks in Chicago, the Chicago Fire Department said.
CPKC in discussions with Mexican government on passenger service, has agreed to fund capacity study
Canadian Pacific Kansas City says it has agreed to study passenger service on part of its freight network in Mexico, and is reviewing a draft decree by the Mexican government regarding passenger train operations.
STB’s Oberman rips into Union Pacific CEO Vena
One who didn’t receive compliments was Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena, who assumed the role in August.
BLET News
TTD unions oppose increases to pilot retirement age at Fall Executive Committee meeting
TTD Fall Executive Committee meeting: From left: Political Analyst David Wasserman, TTD President Greg Regan and TTD Secretary-Treasurer Shari Semelsberger ____________________ The AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department (TTD) held its Fall Executive Committee...
BLET hosts Governor Evers for ride-along inside locomotive cab
Brother Chuck Schulz, Chairman of the BLET Wisconsin SLB (left), in the cab with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers during his ride-along on November 15. ____________________ Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers got to experience firsthand what locomotive engineers and trainmen...
SEPTA’s locomotive engineers unanimously vote to authorize a strike
Results of the vote count today show that of engineers eligible to cast ballots, all voted to strike.
Rail labor unions back re-nomination of RRB Labor Member John Bragg
BLET stands with Bragg: From left: BLET National President Eddie Hall, Labor Member of the RRB John Bragg, BLET First Vice President Mark Wallace and BLET National S-T David Estes _____________________ In a November 13 letter to President Joe Biden, all 13 rail labor...
In depth ProPublica article exposes rail worker harassment and intimidation
A major investigative report published by ProPublica on November 15 exposes how America’s railroad corporations are intimidating workers by putting speed ahead of safety. According to the ProPublica team of investigative reporters, as railroads strive to move their...
Proclamation honors BLET’s 160th anniversary
From left: BLET member Alex Bing, Commissioner Lisa Sobecki, Commissioner Pete Gerken, BLET member John Esterly, and Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak. _________________________ The BLET received a proclamation from the Lucas County (Ohio) Board of Commissioners in...
Biden announces $16.4 billion for Northeast Corridor improvements
Major investment in passenger rail: President Biden announced $16.4 billion in funding for passenger and commuter rail at a November 6 press conference. (Image from White House YouTube video) __________________________ The Biden administration announced on November 6...
Veterans Day 2023: Thank you to our veterans and their families
On Veterans Day, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen thanks all of our veterans for your service to our Nation. We salute you for your contributions and sacrifices, which have made our country free and strong. Veterans Day is an important day of...
BLET reaches tentative agreement with Amtrak: Ballots will be mailed on November 15
The BLET has reached a tentative contract agreement for more than 1,400 locomotive engineers who operate Amtrak’s passenger and commuter trains over its 21,000-mile, 46-state route system.The seven-year tentative agreement includes full retroactive payments dating to...
2022 BLET Bylaws available online
Delegates consider changes to the BLET Bylaws while in session during the Fifth National Convention in 2022. _______________________ An electronic copy of the 2022 edition of the BLET Bylaws is now available in the Members’ Area of the Brotherhood’s website. The...
