Rail Industry News
Ohio exploring passenger rail expansion in Ohio
Ohio took the formal step of signaling interest in expanding Amtrak passenger rail in the state, though it is far from saying yes to the idea.
FRA revises regs on roadway worker protection, maintenance machine
The Federal Railroad Administration has finalized amendments to a pair of regulations related to roadway worker safety and on-track roadway maintenance machines and hi-rail vehicles.
BNSF modifies controversial train crew attendance policy; Unions say changes don’t go far enough
BNSF Railway has modified its controversial Hi-Viz train crew attendance policy in response to employee feedback, but officials at two unions say the changes fall far short of what is needed.
BNSF modifying Hi-Viz attendance policy
In a May 16 statement, BLET National President Dennis Pierce called the changes “little more than fluff.
“I have never seen it this bad:” BLET President Pierce criticizes BNSF working conditions
Dennis Pierce worked as an engineer for BNSF and said things have “changed dramatically” since he was hired 45 years ago. “Not only in crew size over the years, but just also in the way the railroad treats its employees,” Pierce said. “I have never seen it this bad.”
Gillette railroad workers demonstrate against BNSF Hi-Viz policy
A group of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway workers demonstrated in Gillette on Tuesday in opposition to a time-off policy change enacted earlier this year that they said created unfair and unsafe working conditions.
Labor leaders skeptical of CSX CEO talk of improving railroads’ relationship with rank and file
Dennis Pierce, president of the BLET, says railroads have lost touch with their employees due to the way they are treated under Precision Scheduled Railroading, which has brought longer days, more time spent away from home, less rest between trips, and fewer days off.
Union leaders, members rally against BNSF’s Hi-Viz attendance policy
“Imagine if your life was a scorecard and you were allowed 30 points. You only get 4 points for working for 14 days. You can’t get sick. You wife can’t get sick. You can’t get a car wreck,” Fort Madison resident and railroad retiree Jeff Kurtz told a group of 40 some attending the Lee County Labor Chapter’s rally Sunday afternoon opposing BNSF’s policy known as “Hi-Viz.”
The supply chain’s little-known weakest link: Lack of railroad workers
Over the last six years, Class I freight railroads have hemorrhaged a combined 45,000 workers, according to the Surface Transportation Board. That’s nearly 29 percent of their workforce.
BNSF Railway families protest inhumane attendance policies
We talked to the railroad workers’ family members who travelled to Omaha, Nebraska, to protest BNSF’s owner Berkshire Hathaway.
Fort Madison rally protests against BNSF attendance policy
Three months after a judge prevented BNSF workers from striking, a group rallied in Fort Madison to protest a controversial attendance policy.
Bill Gates sells $940 million of CN stock
Bill Gates sold about $940 million of Canadian National Railway Co. shares, trimming one of the largest holdings of the investment firm that controls his $117 billion personal fortune.
Gulf Coast battle: An interim report
The witness phase of the slugout between Amtrak on one side and CSX, Norfolk Southern (NS) and the Port of Mobile on the other, ended May 12 as its 11th day concluded.
Amtrak leverages weekend service outages to make critical repairs in North River Tunnel
Amtrak personnel recently spent a series of consecutive weekends in March remediating damage to the benchwall system in the South Tube of the North River Tunnel.
BNSF joins agency seeking to restore passenger service in southern Montana
BNSF Railway has joined the group seeking to restore passenger rail service in southern Montana, a move welcomed because of the railroad’s role as primary host railroad for the proposed service.
FRA launches corridor ID program
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has established the Corridor Identification and Development (ID) Program that “will serve as a key vehicle for directing federal investments and technical assistance toward new or improved intercity passenger rail services across the nation.” Amtrak expressed its support.
House T&I committee hearing focuses on STB role in freight rail service meltdown
The following are opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, by Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), and Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), during the May 12 hearing titled, “Board Member Views on Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization.”
AAR reports rail traffic for the week ending May 7, 2022
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 504,927 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.5 percent compared with the same week last year.
Boost safety culture with assessments and follow through, FRA report finds
Safety culture improves when railroads participate in Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI)-sponsored safety culture assessments and follow through on recommendations, according to a new report from the Federal Railroad Administration Office of Research, Development and Technology.
UPS driver injured during loading incident involving NS awarded $300,000
A federal jury awarded a UPS driver $300,000 on Thursday for injuries he sustained in a 2019 loading incident caused by a negligent Norfolk Southern Railway employee. The incident, he claimed, nearly crushed him and resulted in $88,000 in medical bills.
BLET News
Kansas DOT proposes safety rule requiring two-person train crews
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is applauding the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) for proposing a statewide two-person crew regulation to help ensure safe train operations within the state.
BLET members ratify new contract with WNYP
By a unanimous vote, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad (WNYP). It governs about a dozen members.
RRB not investing in questionable Chinese companies
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) advised the White House on July 8 that it is not investing railroad workers’ money in questionable companies headquartered in the People’s Republic of China.
Walker elected Iowa State Legislative Board Chairman
Michael G. Walker was elected Chairman of the Iowa State Legislative Board at its quadrennial meeting in Coralville, Iowa, on June 25, 2020.
U.S. House passes major rail safety bill, H.R. 2
By a vote of 233-188, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2 on July 1. The bill, called the Moving Forward Act, includes a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan and incorporates all the significant rail safety improvements that were introduced in the $500 billion INVEST In America Act, which BLET members lobbied Congress to support in a national mobilization outreach in late June.
Members can elect to alter contributions to FSA Plan due to COVID-19
Effective July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020, members may make a one-time election to change the annual FSA Plan contribution for the 2020 FSA Plan year. This one-time election is intended to provide relief to FSA Plan participants who have incurred lower than expected health costs due to the COVID-19 crisis.
BLET reaches tentative agreement with Indiana Southern
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with the Indiana Southern Railroad (ISRR). Ballots were mailed on June 25, 2020, to active members of the BLET employed by the ISRR who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
BLET members urged to act on INVEST in America Act
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, BLET Auxiliary, retirees, and their family members are urged to contact their legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives in support of the INVEST in America Act.
Leyshon reelected UP-Western Region General Chairman
Brother Steve A. Leyshon was reelected by acclamation as the General Chairman of the Union Pacific-Western Region General Committee of Adjustment during the Committee’s quadrennial meeting held June 15, 2020.
Evans reelected CN-IC General Chairman
William D. (Billy) Evans was reelected by acclamation to his second term of office as General Chairman of the BLET’s Canadian National-Illinois Central (CN-IC) General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) at the GCA’s quadrennial meeting on June 9, 2020.
