February 2, 2024 | East Palestine-NS, Headlines, Legislation, Railroad Safety, TTD
(Source: Trains.com, February 1, 2024) Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the leaders of all 13 railroad labor unions today urged Congress to tighten rail safety regulations as the one-year anniversary of the disastrous derailment in East Palestine, Ohio,...
January 26, 2024 | East Palestine-NS, Headlines, Legislation, Railroad Safety
(Source: Transport Topics, January 25, 2024) Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently pressed Congress to pass legislation that would strengthen rail safety policies. Ideally, he emphasized, congressional action on the measure would occur before the anniversary of...
January 25, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Legislation, News, Railroad Safety
From left: BLET Nebraska SLB Chairman Pat Pfeifer meets with FRA Administrator Amit Bose. Photo from the North Platte Bulletin ____________________ BLET Nebraska State Legislative Board Chairman Pat Pfeifer reports that a rail safety bill is currently making its way...
January 24, 2024 | Headlines, Legislation, Railroad Safety, Train Length
(Source: KRDO.com, January 22, 2024) A new train safety bill in the Colorado legislature, if passed, would require railroads to be equipped with more safety features, limit the length and weight of trains carrying hazardous materials and will also limit the time that...
January 5, 2024 | Education and Training, Health & Welfare, Legislation, News, Paid Sick Leave, Railroad Safety, Regional Meetings, Tentative Contract
Happy New Year! As we move forward into 2024, let’s examine the biggest achievements of the BLET’s five major departments in 2023: Protective, Legislative, Education & Training, Organizing, and Public Relations. Please enjoy our Year in Review!...
January 3, 2024 | East Palestine-NS, Headlines, Legislation, NTSB, Railroad Safety
(Source: Freight Waves, January 1, 2024) The passage of any rail safety legislation in Congress next year is likely to be influenced by two things, industry observers told FreightWaves: the 2024 presidential election and the release of a report by the National...
December 9, 2023 | Legislation, News
National Legislative Board’s 2023 annual meeting, from left: Cory Runion, Region 4; Brendan Sullivan, Director of Political Affairs; Herb Harris, Region 1; B.J. Trumble, Region 3; Vince Verna, VP & NLR; Eddie Hall, National President; Mark Wallace, First...
November 29, 2023 | 2-man Crews, Headlines, Legislation, Railroad Safety
(Source: New Jersey Monitor, November 28, 2023) New Jersey lawmakers are considering legislation intended to make “high hazard” freight trains safer by requiring two-person crews, capping train length, and mandating trackside technology to detect defects on passing...
November 13, 2023 | Headlines, Legislation, Long Trains
(Source: Column by Ellen Montgomery published in The Pueblo Chieftain, November 11, 2023) Recent derailments clearly show the dangers that long trains carrying toxic substances pose for the environment. Shipping toxic chemicals through our communities and alongside...
November 1, 2023 | Amtrak, Headlines, High Speed Rail, Legislation
(Source: Trains.com, October 31, 2023) The House of Representatives is set to vote Wednesday on an appropriations bill that would cut Amtrak funding by more than 60% and block federal support for the California high speed rail program. Even if the bill passes the...
