Rail Industry News
Union Pacific CEO advocates seamless border operations at Mexico gateways
Freight train operations across the U.S.-Mexican border should be as seamless as they are across the U.S.-Canadian border, Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena told a shipper group last week.
NS shareholders to decide today whether to back investors who want to fire the CEO
Norfolk Southern shareholders will decide Thursday morning (May 9) whether to back an activist investor’s bid to take over the railroad’s board and replace management.
Train Dispatchers, FRA, BNSF partner on C3RS pilot program
In a win for rail safety and rail workers, the FRA announced that the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) and BNSF Railway will partner with FRA to join a pilot program of the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS).
STB’s Oberman sets May 10 date for retirement
Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman announced that he will retire from the Board on May 10, 2024.
White House to nominate Clegg, Batory for Amtrak Board of Directors
President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Elaine Marie Clegg and Ronald L. Batory to be Members of the Amtrak Board of Directors.
NTSB issues preliminary report on UP track worker fatality
The NTSB report says the incident came after the victim walked near the tread on the south side of the excavator; the machine’s operator was in the process of moving ballast when the bucket struck the manager; he was pinned between the bucket and body of the machine, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
UP undermined FRA safety culture assessment
The meddling was so widespread across Union Pacific’s 23-state network that the Federal Railroad Administration had no choice but to suspend its safety assessment of the company.
Teamsters Canada members vote to authorize strike at CN, CPKC
Unless parties can reach an agreement, a work stoppage can occur as early as May 22, at 00:01.
Union Pacific’s Q1 2024 profit up 1% as railroad limits expenses
Union Pacific said it made $1.64 billion, or $2.69 per share, in the first quarter of 2024. That’s higher than last year’s $1.63 billion, or $.2.67 per share.
NS Q1 2024 earnings offer railroad a chance to defend its strategy ahead of control vote
Norfolk Southern confirmed the $53 million, or 23 cents per share, that it earned in the first quarter.
CPKC says longer hauls helped propel Q1 2024 earnings
On a combined basis — which estimates the effects of the CP-KCS merger as if it had become effective on Jan. 1, 2023, instead of April 14, 2023 — CPKC’s operating income was flat, at $1.2 billion, as revenue increased 2%, to $3.5 billion.
New Jersey Rep. Donald Payne Jr. dies at 65
The BLET mourns the passing of Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr. (D-NJ), a staunch advocate for rail safety who served as Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials.
Jury: BNSF contributed to 2 asbestos-related deaths in Montana
A federal jury on Monday said BNSF Railway contributed to the deaths of two people who were exposed to asbestos decades ago when tainted mining material was shipped through a Montana town where thousands have been sickened.
AAR reports rail traffic for the week ending April 13, 2024
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 466,463 carloads and intermodal units, up 1.5 percent compared with the same week last year.
CSX profit drops 10% in Q1 2024; CEO says Baltimore bridge collapse will reduce Q2 revenue by about $25 million per month
The railroad said on April 17 that it earned $893 million, or 46 cents per share, in the first three months of the year as it handled 3% more freight. That’s down from $987 million, or 48 cents per share, a year ago.
BRC-TCU secures sick leave at CPKC
(Source: Transportation Communications Union press release, April 16, 2024) The Brotherhood of Railway Carmen Division (BRC-TCU) is proud to announce that a sick leave agreement has been reached with Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railroad (CPKC). This agreement is in...
STB ends probe of UP’s use of embargoes, but slams railroad’s “delay and obfuscation”
The Surface Transportation Board today closed the book on its investigation of Union Pacific’s record use of congestion-related embargoes in 2022 – but not before scolding the railroad for failing to comply with board orders and requests for information.
Federal agency mandates two-person train crews just weeks after Virginia gov. vetoes bill
Mark Wallace, First Vice President of the BLET, said: “The engineers are a lot of times hyper-focused on the controls, and what’s happening not only on the front of the train, but what’s happening in the middle and on the rear of the train. It’s very helpful, and we think, necessary to have a second crew person on the train with us.”
NS reports preliminary Q1 2024 results
In an outlook for Q1 earnings, which are to be released April 24, Norfolk Southern said adjusted earnings would come in at $2.49 a share and adjusted operating ratio would be 69.9%.
Lawyers want East Palestine residents to wait for details of $600 million derailment settlement
The lawyers who negotiated a $600 million settlement with Norfolk Southern over that railroad’s disastrous 2023 derailment in Ohio want residents to talk with them before deciding the historic deal isn’t enough.
BLET News
Train crews drive resurgence at Amtrak as trains sell out ahead of Thanksgiving holiday rush
Amtrak's recent surge in ticket sales are thanks in large part to the hard work and dedication of the train crews including BLET members. Amtrak photo ____________________ Amtrak trains are selling out from coast to coast thanks in part to surging demand for...
Division 301 in Roanoke marks 140th anniversary
BLET Division 301 in Roanoke was chartered on November 17, 1885. Members celebrated their Division's 140th anniversary at a Division meeting earlier in this month where they wore t-shirts designed by Local Chairman Patrick Jennings. ____________________ In 1885,...
BLET backing efforts to secure funding for Caltrain, other mass transit agencies
The BLET is backing efforts to place a funding measure on the November 2026 ballot that would help keep the trains rolling at Caltrain. Photo courtesy of Caltrain ____________________ Commuter railroad Caltrain and other public transit agencies in the San Francisco...
One year later, Division 13 member Tony Ramos continues battle with brain cancer; Fundraiser set for La Crosse on December 4
Brother Tony Ramos, an Air Force veteran, was invited to attend a Wisconsin Badgers football game in November where he was presented with a game ball in recognition of his year-long battle with brain cancer. ____________________ It’s been one year since BLET member...
LIRR unions in NMB public interest hearing tell labor board that PEB recommendations are a foundation for reaching a settlement
On Monday, November 17, the National Mediation Board (NMB) held a “Public Interest Hearing” at its offices in Washington to assess if either the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) or a coalition of five rail unions that includes BLET would accept the recommendations of...
National Transportation Safety Board issues two safety advisories directed at conductors and other rail workers
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued two safety alerts in November regarding rail operations: the first addressed the risks of shoving moves, and the second concerned the dangers of unexpected equipment moves. The BLET Safety Task Force urges all...
BLET members ratify five-year deal with WNYP
On November 11, BLET members ratified a new five-year agreement with the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad (WNYP), governing rates of pay, benefits, and work rules. The agreement runs through 2030 and provides for a guaranteed 40-hour work week, a signing...
BLET reaches tentative agreement with SEPTA
The BLET has reached a tentative one-year deal with SEPTA for locomotive engineers who operate regional rail trains for the transit agency. Ballots were mailed last week. If ratified by the members, the deal would build upon gains achieved in the previous round of...
BLET reaches tentative agreement for CPKC Soo Line locomotive engineers
Ballots are due back to the National Division by Thursday, December 11. Photo by Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659 ____________________ The BLET has reached a tentative five-year agreement with the CPKC for locomotive engineers who work on the CPKC Soo Line territory....
BLET holds Town Hall meetings in Pennsylvania, more dates added for the upcoming weeks
BLET members turned out in strong numbers and came prepared with thoughtful, detailed questions at our recent Town Hall meetings in Harrisburg, PA, on November 16, and Pittsburgh, PA, on November 17. See photo highlights of the Pennsylvania meetings. The discussions...
