December 28, 2023 | East Palestine-NS, Headlines, Paid Sick Leave, Railroad Safety
(Source: Freight Waves, December 21, 2023) The year 2023 seemed to kick off quietly for U.S. freight railroads: The industry had seen the resolution of the labor contract impasse between craft unions and U.S. Class I railroads in December 2022, while rail service was...
December 21, 2023 | Headlines, KCS, PSR, Railroad Safety
(Source: ProPublica, December 19, 2023) After brakeman Chris Cole lost both his legs on the job, KCS railroad officials removed evidence before state regulators could see it, omitted key facts in reports and suspended him from a job he could never return to. Full...
December 11, 2023 | Canada, Headlines, Railroad Safety
(Source: Trains.com, December 11, 2023) The Canadian government has announced new rules regarding rail air brake inspection and maintenance, to take effect Dec. 1, 2025. Full story: Trains.com
December 7, 2023 | Headlines, PSR, Railroad Safety, STB, Unions
(Source: Trains.com, December 4, 2023) A coalition of rail labor unions has criticized the U.S. Class I railroads’ hiring efforts, their pace of service improvements, and the industry’s safety record in a filing with the Surface Transportation Board. Full story:...
December 4, 2023 | News, Railroad Safety
From left: BLET’s Andrew Arias, NJ State Senator Patrick Diegnan, and BLET’s Ray Vigil at the New Jersey State Senate’s hearing to consider a rail safety bill on November 27, 2023. ____________________ Members of the BLET’s New Jersey State Legislative Board (NJ SLB)...
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 17, 2023 | News, Railroad Safety
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...
November 16, 2023 | Headlines, PSR, Railroad Safety
(Source: ProPublica, November 15, 2023) To squeeze the most money out of every minute, railroad companies are going to dangerous lengths to avoid disruptions — even those for safety repairs. BLET National Vice President Randy Fannon spoke to Pro Publica for this...
November 2, 2023 | Headlines, PSR, Railroad Safety, UP
(Source: Trains.com, November 1, 2023) The head of the track workers’ union has warned federal regulators that Union Pacific aims to furlough up to 1,350 maintenance-of-way employees next month and will push the remainder of this year’s planned trackwork projects into...
October 13, 2023 | News, Railroad Safety
Brother B.J. Trumble (pictured above), Chairman of the BLET’s Michigan State Legislative Board, reports that three important rail safety bills are advancing in the Michigan House of Representatives. The three bills (No. 4915, No. 4917 and No. 4918) would establish the...
