Rail Industry News
CPKC dedicates new rail bridge between U.S., Mexico
The bridge is 1,170 feet long and cost $100 million.
Washington state calls for more, faster Amtrak Cascades service
Proposed bills would establish goals for cutting travel time, increasing daily roundtrips, and boosting on-time performance from Seattle to Portland and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Two years after East Palestine derailment, rail leaders still urge safety reforms
Rail leaders highlighted the worsening safety trends across the industry and the harmful impacts of the precision scheduled railroading (PSR) business model that prioritizes profits over safety.
Two bills addressing hazmat rail movements reintroduced in U.S. House
Previous versions of these bills did not advance out of House committees in 2023.
Trump administration shakes up funding formulas for rail projects
The order also contains provisions that would seem to threaten FRA funding for Amtrak, CRISI grants, and grade-crossing elimination projects.
Two years after derailment, toxic chemicals still roll through East Palestine
Despite an initial outcry, changes at the federal level have been bogged down.
Norfolk Southern reports Q4, full-year 2024 results
For full-year 2024, revenue was $12.1 billion and income from railway operations was $4.1 billion.
CN reports Q4, full-year 2024 results
Operating income for the full year was down 5% compared to 2023.
CPKC reports Q4, full-year 2024 results
For the full year 2024, the railroad reported that its operating ratio decreased by 60 basis points to 64.4 percent from 65.0 percent in 2023.
Union Pacific reports Q4, full-year 2024 results
The company repurchased 6.3 million shares of stock in 2024 at an aggregate cost of $1.5 billion.
CSX reports Q4, full-year 2024 results
Revenue for the full year totaled $14.54 billion in 2024.
Onboard workers at Brightline vote to join TWU
The TWU victory comes after an aggressive anti-union campaign by the privately-owned company.
New NJ Transit head tells union he’s ready to bargain as strike deadline looms
Kris Kolluri, the new head of NJ Transit, is imploring the union that represents locomotive engineers to come to the table before a possible strike in March.
Shift to remote-controlled dams, trains raises unions’ concerns
But the lack of clarity surrounding training, or how the equipment would provide “equivalent levels of safety for workers who perform duties around or adjacent ” to the train cars, or the surrounding community and pedestrians, has drawn opposition from unions.
A 60-day pre-strike period kicks in as engineers, NJ Transit negotiate pay hikes
And a 60-day countdown has begun before a possible strike could start.
Appeals court blocks rule allowing movement of LNG by rail
Environmental groups asserted that “the amount of energy contained in 22 tank cars of LNG would be equal to that of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II.”
January 19 ceremony to honor UP workers who died in Pecos derailment
The ceremony will take place at the West of the Pecos Museum at 4 p.m.
DOT announces over $1.1 billion in new grants to reduce train-vehicle collisions and blocked rail crossings
The grants for communities in 41 states will fund construction of railroad overpasses and underpasses, helping to reduce the risk of collisions between trains and roadway users and prevent blocked crossings.
Border agency seeks to close security gaps on rail exports to Canada, Mexico
Proposed rule includes penalties of up to $100,000 for each violation.
2 killed, 3 injured when UP train derails in Pecos, TX, after collision
BLET President Eddie Hall said the derailment “should serve as a wake-up call to legislators to improve rail safety.”
BLET News
BLET Education & Training Department: LM-3/LM-4 Zoom workshop
The BLET National Division Education & Training Department held virtual Secretary-Treasurer refresher training last week, with over 50 officers participating via the Zoom platform. The four-hour class provided valuable assistance with the preparation of forms LM-3...
Maryland: BLET, Alstom reach tentative deal for MARC locomotive engineers
The BLET has reached a tentative contract with Alstom for locomotive engineers who operate Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC) trains in the Washington-Baltimore area. The tentative agreement governs pay, benefits and work rules for 20 members. Ballots were mailed last...
BLET members ratify new contract with Keolis for MBTA engineers
The five-year deal provides BLET members with general wage increases and numerous quality of life improvements. Photo: Sean McPherson ____________________ BLET members ratified a new contract with Keolis Commuter Services for locomotive engineers working at the...
Education and Training Dept. to host officer training at 2025 BLET Regional Meetings
Please make your plans now to attend one or both of the BLET’s Regional Meetings this year. An important part of these events are training workshops for Local Division officers conducted by the BLET Education and Training Department. Training will be offered for...
BLET, NJ Transit meet again this week
BLET representatives met this week for a second time with new NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri in an effort to reach a voluntary resolution to the lengthy contract dispute. This follows an initial meeting on January 30. BLET and NJ Transit are in the midst of a 60-day...
Verna touts the benefits of C3RS at TTD rail safety news conference
In March 2023, leaders of America’s largest railroads promised to voluntarily adopt the Confidential Close Call Reporting System in the weeks after the tragedy in East Palestine. C3RS is a safety program that allows railroad workers to confidentially report near-miss...
Vance visits East Palestine, pledges Trump administration’s support for the Railway Safety Act
Vice President J.D. Vance said the Trump administration supports the Railway Safety Act during his visit to East Palestine on February 3. Photo: Associated Press ____________________ On Monday, February 3, Vice President J.D. Vance traveled to East Palestine, Ohio, to...
Capitol Hill: Rep. Titus of Nevada renews call for rail safety legislation
U.S. Representative Dina Titus delivers her opening remarks during a January 23 hearing. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee image ____________________ U.S. Representative Dina Titus (D-NV), who has a history of supporting rail workers, spoke out in...
2025 BLET Scholarship Directory: Financial aid is available to the dependents of BLET members
BLET members and their dependents seeking academic scholarships are encouraged to explore the 2025 BLET Scholarship Directory, a resource for a variety of financial aid programs. If you or a family member are looking for scholarship opportunities, don’t delay....
Rep. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania appointed Vice Ranking Member of House Rail Subcommittee
U.S. Representative Chris Deluzio at a 2024 roundtable discussion on rail safety. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee image ____________________ On January 22, it was announced that Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA) will serve as the Vice Ranking Member of the...
