September 12, 2025 | Amtrak, Headlines, NS
(Source: U.S. Department of Justice press release, September 9, 2025) The Justice Department today announced a settlement with Norfolk Southern Corporation and Norfolk Southern Railway Company (together, Norfolk Southern) to resolve allegations that Norfolk Southern...
September 7, 2025 | Amtrak, News, Top News
It was a bit of a homecoming for BLET locomotive engineer Ted Graham when he pulled back the throttle to officially relaunch Amtrak’s “Mardi Gras” service along the Gulf Coast on August 19. Graham, a member of BLET Division 18, previously worked as an assistant...
September 3, 2025 | Amtrak, News, Top News
Representing BLET at the inaugural run, from left: Vince Verna, VP & NLR; Mark Wallace, National President; and Gary Best, First Vice President. ____________________ BLET locomotive engineer Earl Braxton, a member of BLET Division 482, was at the throttle as...
August 14, 2025 | Amtrak, Legislation, News, Top News
The BLET is getting on board with the All Aboard Act. Reintroduced in the United States Senate on July 29 by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), the All Aboard Act would dedicate $200 billion over five years to build high-speed rail, expand existing passenger rail service, and...
July 24, 2025 | Amtrak, FRA, News, Top News
House Appropriations Committee Republicans last week released the draft fiscal year 2026 Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development (THUD), and Related Agencies funding bill. The BLET is keeping a close eye on the proceedings as the proposed legislation...
July 15, 2025 | Amtrak, News, Top News
Amtrak announced on June 30 that its Mardi Gras service between New Orleans, Louisiana. and Mobile, Alabama, with stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula, Mississippi will resume on August 18. The twice-daily service will provide employment...
June 12, 2025 | Amtrak, News, Railroad Retirement, Top News
On Friday, May 30, President Trump released his proposed budget for the 2026 federal Fiscal Year (FY) for every federal agency, including key federal agencies important to BLET such as the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), the National Mediation Board (NMB), Amtrak,...
June 4, 2025 | Amtrak, Headlines
(Source: Trains.com, June 4, 2025) Texas lawmakers did not include funding for Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer in a budget bill passed last week, placing the future of the train between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City in jeopardy after a year that saw a 11% increase in...
May 15, 2025 | Amtrak, GCA Elections, News, Top News
Pat Darcy was reelected to the office of General Chairman at the Amtrak General Committee of Adjustment’s (GCA) quadrennial meeting in San Antonio, Texas, on May 6, 2025. The BLET’s Amtrak GCA represents more than 2,000 active and retired locomotive engineers and...
April 15, 2025 | Amtrak, Commuter Rail, Headlines
(Source: NorthJersey.com, April 14, 2025) One of the first construction projects associated with the $16 billion Gateway rail tunnel project beneath the Hudson River — the Tonnelle Avenue overpass and relocation of the utilities in North Bergen — is expected to be...
