Rail Industry News
Railroad execs outline train crew hiring challenges, promise service improvements
CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern are working to improve their service amid ongoing crew shortages and supply chain disruptions, executives told shippers on Thursday.
Opinion: Has the railroads’ “get up and go” spirit “got up and gone?”
I find it difficult to believe that two giant corporations that have built their networks by combining many great railroads of the past have become capacity-constrained and fragile.
Gulf Coast Round 4: A battle within a battle
The battle between Amtrak and potential host railroads CSX and NS, joined by the Port of Mobile, entered a new stage April 4, as the first witnesses began their appearances before the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in the first case that will decide how and on what conditions Amtrak will be allowed to initiate new passenger service.
Amtrak is using Twitch to fight freight railroads
Last week, Amtrak used Twitch, the live streaming platform, to fight the freight services’ claims that passenger service on the track would cause “a near-catastrophic meltdown of freight operations” without infrastructure upgrades.
STB to hold hearings on rail service issues, April 26-27
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced it will hold a public hearing on April 26-27 on recent rail service problems and recovery efforts involving several Class I carriers.
Federal regulators to hold hearings on rail service problems
Federal regulators have ordered officials from BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific to appear a two-day hearing this month regarding ongoing rail service problems.
BNSF workers say harsh new policy forces them to work sick, exhausted
Thousands of railroad workers in Colorado can’t strike over a new attendance policy that two unions say is so punitive it could lead employees to clock in while sick or exhausted, potentially leading to accidents.
Gulf Coast battle: A possible solution
As the evidentiary hearing regarding the reintroduction and expansion of Amtrak passenger train service between New Orleans and Mobile continues before the Surface Transportation Board, interesting operational cost-sharing questions have emerged regarding how Amtrak trains may be able to coexist with very long CSX freights.
AAR reports rail traffic for March and the week ending April 2, 2022
Combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations in March 2022 were 2,507,684, down 3 percent, or 78,714 carloads and intermodal units from March 2021.
Lawmakers are raising the alarm about railroad worker fatigue
Top Democrats on the House committee that oversees the freight rail network have urged the Federal Railroad Administration to do something about worker fatigue.
Metra to boost Union Pacific Northwest service as it anticipates return of commuters
Anticipating the return of more weekday commuters, Metra is significantly boosting service on its Union Pacific Northwest line and tweaking the Union Pacific North schedule.
Union Pacific, coalition file suit to halt new Oakland A’s ballpark
The Union Pacific Railroad Company has filed a lawsuit challenging the city of Oakland’s certification of an environmental impact report (EIR) for the proposed new waterfront ballpark for the Oakland Athletics.
‘The worst and most egregious attendance policy’ is pushing railroad workers to the brink
Workers, their families, and the unions that represent them speak of Hi Viz in apocalyptic terms. They regard it as a draconian measure that makes no sense except as an effort to get every BNSF employee to quit out of rage, depression, or ill health.
March 2022 rail volumes were a mixed bag in U.S.
Combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations in March 2022 were 2,507,684, dipping 3%, or 78,714 carloads and intermodal units, from March 2021.
30 transportation union leaders outline 2022 legislative agenda
Among other items, the TTD’s legislative agenda calls for the Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Labor (DOL), and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to address abusive railroad attendance policies harming workers and the supply chain.
STB Gulf Coast hearing Day 3: NS testimony focuses on limitations of connection in New Orleans
Norfolk Southern’s view of the impact of potential Amtrak service was a focal point of Wednesday’s third day of hearings on the passenger carrier’s effort to launch two daily round trips between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala.
Round 3: Raising legal issues in a case of first impression in Amtrak Gulf Coast hearing
At this writing, the first witness in the slugfest between Amtrak on one side and CSX, NS and the Port of Mobile on the other, is focusing on confidential matters.
Transportation unions want federal action against Class I railroads’ attendance policies
The Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO is urging federal agencies to rein in Class I railroads’ attendance policies, which TTD says force union employees to work long hours without adequate rest.
NS to announce Q1 2022 earnings on April 27
NS will announce its first-quarter 2022 financial results at 8:45 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 27.
SMART-TD blames train crew shortages on cutbacks related to PSR
Ongoing service problems related to crew shortages on the U.S. Class I railroads are entirely self-inflicted due to the implementation of Precision Scheduled Railroading, the SMART Transportation Division labor union has told federal regulators.
BLET News
BLET members ratify new contracts with TASI, Louisville & Indiana
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have ratified two new contracts in recent weeks: one with Transit America Services Inc. (TASI) for Caltrain engineers, and one with the Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC).
BLET reaches tentative agreement with Indiana Rail Road
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with the Indiana Rail Road (INRD). Ballots were mailed today to active members of the BLET employed by INRD who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
Save the date: 2020 BLET regional meetings
The BLET National Division is pleased to announce the dates and locations of its 2020 regional meetings: June 22-26 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and August 17-21 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Rail Chiefs announce formation of Coordinated Bargaining Coalition
Top leaders of 10 rail unions announced today that their organizations will be participating in coordinated bargaining in the round of national negotiations that began on November 1, 2019.
Former BLE General Chairman Morris Royal, 1921-2019
Former BLE General Chairman Morris Royal Sr. passed away on October 29, 2019. He was 97 years old.
Rail hazmat training for Albuquerque-area workers
The Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program is hosting Rail Hazmat Chemical/Emergency Response and OSHA Awareness Training Programs from November 6-10, 2019, in Albuquerque, N.M. Attendance is only open to railroad employees within 250 miles of Albuquerque and the surrounding Native American community.
BLET members urged to contact Congress on two critical issues as union lobbies in D.C.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is urging all members to contact their Representatives and Senators in Congress to support the union’s two most pressing legislative issues: foreign crews operating trains into the United States at the southern U.S./Mexican border, and two-person train crews.
BLET part of union group suing to overturn new NMB rule that undermines workers
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, along with 14 other unions and union groups representing railroad and airline workers, has filed a joint lawsuit to protect workers covered by the Railway Labor Act from an anti-union rule change recently implemented by the National Mediation Board (NMB).
Our Solidarity is Crucial to our Success
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President In past President’s Messages, I have written to BLET’s Membership about the many issues that confront us in our effort to protect the interests of locomotive engineers and trainmen, as well as working class Americans in general. While my past Messages may not have presented those issues as “good news,” I am still convinced that we will prevail if we remain united. Our solidarity as BLET members, and our solidarity with other Unions that share our goals, is the key to that success.
Ronnie Rhodes reelected to third term as UP-Central General Chairman
Ronnie E. Rhodes was reelected by acclamation to his third full term as General Chairman at the Union Pacific-Central Regional General Committee of Adjustment’s quadrennial meeting in New Orleans, La., October 8-9, 2019. All other officers of the GCA were also elected by acclamation.
