February 15, 2024 | Contract Negotiations, News, Short Line, Tentative Contract
A contract ratification vote is underway for BLET members at the Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (M&NA). Ballots were mailed this week to members to vote on a tentative on-property agreement governing rates of pay, benefits and work rules for...
February 15, 2024 | Contract Negotiations, News, Short Line, Tentative Contract
The BLET has reached a tentative contract with the Berkshire & Eastern Railroad (B&E). The tentative agreement governs rates of pay, benefits and work rules for approximately 30 members. Ballots were mailed this week. Some of the proposed contractual...
February 8, 2024 | FRA, Headlines, Railroad Safety, Short Line
(Source: Railfan & Railroad Magazine, February 6, 2024) The Federal Railroad Administration issued a rare emergency order shutting down an Oklahoma short line following the discovery of multiple derailments and safety violations. In an emergency order posted this...
February 1, 2024 | Contract Agreement, News, Short Line
On January 23, BLET members ratified a new six-year agreement with the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad (SL&A). The agreement provides retroactive pay dating to January 1, 2022, for all active employees, and general wage increases of 24% over the life of the...
January 26, 2024 | Contract Agreement, News, Short Line, UP
A new agreement between the BLET and the Pacific Harbor Line (PHL) illustrates the importance of locomotive engineers to a railroad’s success. The PHL Employee Retention Program, signed by BLET General Chairman Brian Carr on January 17, 2024, rewards BLET members with...
January 23, 2024 | Contract Agreement, CSX, News, Short Line
On January 15, a majority of members from BLET Divisions 72 and 191 ratified an implementing agreement regarding CSX Transportation’s acquisition of the Springfield Terminal Railway (a Pan Am Railway affiliate). The agreement covers approximately 30 BLET members and...
January 15, 2024 | Contract Agreement, News, Short Line
PNW BLET members will get a general wage increase of 21.5% (23.4% compounded) over the life of the new contract as well as a number of other contractual improvements. Photo courtesy: Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659 ____________________ On January 11, BLET members...
December 21, 2023 | BNSF, Headlines, Short Line, STB, UP
(Source: Trains.com, December 14, 2023) BNSF Railway this week asked federal regulators to ensure that it can use its trackage rights over Union Pacific to interchange with a proposed new short line railway in Utah. Full story: Trains.com
December 8, 2023 | Headlines, Short Line
(Source: Trains.com analysis by Bill Stephens, December 7, 2023) It’s hard to say when a trend becomes a trend. But yesterday’s announcement that Canadian National will acquire the 253-mile Iowa Northern Railway suggests that short lines and regionals getting gobbled...
November 6, 2023 | CPKC, CSX, Headlines, Short Line, STB
(Source: Trains.com, November 3, 2023) Federal regulators have accepted the applications Canadian Pacific Kansas City and CSX Transportation have filed seeking permission to acquire and operate Genesee & Wyoming short line Meridian & Bigbee. The supplemental...
