Rail Industry News
Shaw kicks off first days as NS’s top executive
Alan Shaw yesterday began his first day as Norfolk Southern Railway’s new president and CEO.
What is Precision Scheduled Railroading?
Amid lot of talk, just what is Precision Scheduled Railroading?
Spouses of BNSF employees protest at Berkshire Hathaway meeting
The spouses of BNSF railroaders protested at the Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meetings in Omaha, Nebraska on Saturday.
BLET, SMART-TD members protest outside of BNSF shareholder meeting in Omaha
While Berkshire Hathaway shareholders sat April 30 in comfort and national cable-news networks live-streamed and deified wealth hoarder Warren Buffett and his executive cronies at the company’s annual meeting, BNSF railroad workers, as always, were out in the elements doing the hard things – this time protesting.
President Biden announces Amtrak Board Member nominees
Today, President Biden announced his intent to nominate five individuals to serve as members of the Amtrak Board of Directors.
LeDure v. Union Pacific: Locomotive Inspection Act case law stays intact and “in use” for now
Interpretation of the phrase “in use” as used in the Locomotive Inspection Act (LIA) continues to baffle courts across the country, including the Supreme Court of the United States.
National Guard called out after BNSF train derails, burns in North Dakota
Fifteen cars of a BNSF Railway intermodal train derailed early Sunday near Burlington, with some cars catching fire, closing the railroad’s Glasgow Subdivision main line just west of Minot, N.D. Because firefighters were facing difficulties reaching the scene, a North Dakota National Guard helicopter was dispatched to help fight the fire.
Mexico: Rail link worth billions won’t go through Texas after governor used trade as political tool
The Mexican government said it intends to shift long-range plans to build a trade railway connection worth billions of dollars from Texas to New Mexico in the wake of Gov. Greg Abbott’s stepped-up border inspections last month, which were widely criticized as being financially damaging and may now leave a lasting impact on relations between Texas and its No. 1 trading partner.
Split U.S. Supreme Court sides with railroads on worker injury liability
The U.S. Supreme Court in a 4-4 split on Thursday affirmed a lower court ruling that said a train that is stopped is not “in use” under federal labor law, absolving Union Pacific of liability for a worker’s injuries.
Poor rail service threatens U.S. economy, shippers tell STB at Day 2 of hearing
Chemical producers say erratic rail service has forced them to curtail production of essentials like chlorine used to treat public drinking water systems and the plastics used in medical products.
Class I railroads leave U.S. grain and food shippers stranded
Rail backlogs in the United States are delaying shipment of grains as well as processed flour and corn syrup, contributing to the national problem of inflation, food and grain companies said at a hearing this week.
NTSB publishes report on 2019 NS fatality in Baltimore
We determined that the probable cause of the fatality was the conductor riding on the side of a railcar for unknown reasons as the moving train approached stored railcars on an adjacent track, which resulted in decreased clearance, in a section of the Bayview Yard where Norfolk Southern Corporation’s terminal instructions and operating rules specifically prohibited riding railcars in the close-clearance restriction areas.
STB orders CP to resubmit KCS merger traffic density data by May 27
Federal regulators have ordered Canadian Pacific to resubmit specific traffic density data that will be used as part of its Kansas City Southern merger application.
CP eyes early 2023 federal approval of KCS acquisition
Canadian Pacific still expects federal approval of its planned acquisition of Kansas City Southern to occur sometime within the next 12 months, despite a recent pause in the proceeding.
AAR reports rail traffic for the week ending April 23, 2022
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 498,011 carloads and intermodal units, down 7.4 percent compared with the same week last year.
STB seeks ways to quickly ease railroad service problems
There were more questions than answers on Tuesday as federal regulators sought ways to remedy railroad service problems that defy a quick fix because they are rooted in a shortage of train crews.
U.S. rail problems moving fuel, additives could sideline 10% of nation’s trucking fleet: STB hearing
Widespread railroad service problems in the U.S. could sideline 10% of the nation’s commercial trucking fleet because of fuel and additives supply disruptions, specifically for diesel exhaust fluid, renewable diesel and ethanol.
U.S. rail traffic down for ninth consecutive week
Total U.S. rail traffic for the week ending April 23, 2022, came in at 498,011 carloads and intermodal units, down 7.4% from the same point last year, the Association of American Railroads reported on April 27.
CP reports Q1 2022 results
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited announced first-quarter operating results on April 27, 2022.
NS reports “solid” Q1 2022 results despite challenges
Norfolk Southern on April 27 released a first-quarter 2022 operating metrics report card.
BLET News
Hau elected CN-WC General Chairman
Brother Eric A. Hau was elected by acclamation to the office of General Chairman at the Canadian National-Wisconsin Central General Committee of Adjustment’s quadrennial meeting on April 21, 2020. The meeting was a first of its kind in the history of the BLET, as it was not held in person but “virtually” through online video conference technology.
BLET’s 2020 Milwaukee regional meeting postponed
Due to the continuing, widespread movement and travel restrictions as well as limitations on the size of gatherings due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across the United States, the 2020 BLET regional meeting scheduled for Milwaukee, Wisc., between June 22-26 has been postponed.
Special alert for RRB benefit recipients who don’t file a tax return and have dependents
The $1,200 automatic payments will be starting soon for RRB beneficiaries who did not file a tax return in the last two years. No action is needed by these beneficiaries; they will automatically receive their $1,200 payment. But for those RRB beneficiaries who are not required to file a tax return and who have children, an extra step is needed to quickly add $500 per eligible child onto their automatic payment of $1,200.
BLET backs proposed Essential Workers Bill of Rights
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is supporting an Essential Workers Bill of Rights that has been proposed in the United State Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives that is designed to help better protect the health and safety frontline workers and provide hazard pay during the coronavirus pandemic.
Lives at risk as FRA continues to limit its response on coronavirus safety
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on April 10 denied requests submitted by labor Organizations which, if approved, would have provided critical protections for railroad employees during the ongoing national COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, according to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD).
President Pierce coronavirus interview to air on Teamster Nation podcast
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce will discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Rail Labor and the railroad industry in an interview on the Teamster Nation podcast, which will be aired on Wednesday, April 15.
Members of Congress demand FRA, FTA act to protect rail workers during COVID-19 pandemic
A bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives has sent a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) demanding that the agencies adopt health and safety recommendations made by organized labor to better protect rail and transit workers from the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.
Update from the Railroad Retirement Board Labor Member
By John Bragg, Labor Member, Railroad Retirement Board As the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) works its way through this pandemic, I will continue to reach out to you, my fellow brothers and sisters, to keep you informed on the status of the RRB and the benefits we administer.
Union Plus offers hardship assistance to union members during COVID-19 pandemic
BLET members may be eligible to apply for hardship assistance through Union Plus during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rail Labor wins 8-year fight to protect employee medical privacy at BNSF
Rail Labor has successfully worked together to protect the privacy of its members after a recent legal victory at the BNSF Railway, which forced the carrier to change its return to work medical reporting requirements.
