February 27, 2024 | Legislation, News, Railroad Safety
Many BLET members were on hand along with Ohio Rep. Sean Brennan to throw their support behind HB 381 that would rename a northeast Ohio highway interchange to honor fallen Brother Lou Shuster. Ohio Ohio State Legislative Board Chairman John Esterly reports that the...
February 26, 2024 | News, NS, Railroad Safety
Want to know more about the BLET’s recently signed Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS) pilot program with Norfolk Southern? Listen to a podcast featuring BLET General Chairman Scott Bunten (Norfolk Southern-Eastern Lines GCA). In the 10-minute discussion...
February 23, 2024 | Canada, Derailment, Headlines, Railroad Safety, Teamsters Canada
(Source: Global News, February 21, 2024) Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), which represents more than 9,000 rail workers across Canada, is raising concerns about safety following three freight train collisions in B.C. in less than two months. Two TCRC members...
February 22, 2024 | 2-man Crews, Legislation, News, Railroad Safety
Virginia BLET Virginia State Legislative Board Chairman Tim Craver reports progress on the state’s two-person crew bill. Both bills — SB 143 and HB 385 — have passed their respective chambers after their third reading earlier this month. Both are in the legislature’s...
February 22, 2024 | FRA, Headlines, NS, PSR, Railroad Safety
(Source: Reuters, February 21, 2024) The head of the Federal Railroad Administration on Wednesday urged Norfolk Southern to focus on safety after a group of activist investors proposed replacing the company’s top management. Full story: Yahoo...
February 21, 2024 | Historic/Steam, News, Railroad Safety
Granville T. Woods (1865-1910) an African American inventor, held more than 50 patents in his lifetime and was referred to by some as the “Black Edison.” Woods concentrated most of his work on trains and streetcars. One of his most important inventions was the...
February 20, 2024 | Fatality, FRA, News, Railroad Safety
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a Safety Bulletin warning about the dangers of rolling equipment following a tragic accident that took the life of BLET Division 423 member Chris Wilson at a rail yard in Decatur, Alabama, on February 7. The...
February 17, 2024 | East Palestine-NS, News, PSR, Railroad Safety
President Biden is scheduled to visit East Palestine to witness firsthand how the town is recovering from the devastation of last year’s derailment. This visit should help keep a spotlight on rail safety. (NTSB image) ____________________ President Joe Biden...
February 16, 2024 | News, NS, Railroad Safety
At the February 15 signing ceremony, from left: General Chairman Scott Bunten, General Chairman Jerry Sturdivant, NS CEO Alan Shaw, FRA Administrator Amit Bose, and General Chairman Dewayne Dehart. (Photo: courtesy of NS) ____________________ Representatives of the...
February 15, 2024 | East Palestine-NS, News, Railroad Safety
In a February 3 article detailing how railroad management’s public positions on railroad safety differ from their lobbying activity, the Washington Post exposed how the rail industry routinely says one thing — but does the opposite.“Over the past year, the nation’s...
