Rail Industry News
Biggest railroad companies profiting from supply chain crisis, watchdog alleges
Accountable.US, a nonprofit group that examines corporations and special interests, said the seven major railways, which dominate an industry that carries about 40 percent of U.S. freight, collected a record $1.18 billion in fees for freight stuck in supply chain bottlenecks in the first nine months of 2021.
CN officially asks STB for KCS line divestiture
CN has officially asked the STB “to condition any approval of a CP-KCS merger on the divestiture of the KCS line from Kansas City, Missouri to Springfield and East St. Louis, Illinois (the Kansas City Speedway) to CN, pursuant to the STB’s statutory authority to order ‘the divestiture of parallel tracks’ as a merger condition.”
Shippers back CP-KCS merger if regulators impose conditions to protect competition
Shippers say they will support the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger so long as regulatory approval of the first Class I combination in two decades includes conditions that would protect competition.
BNSF Q4 2021 net income grows to $1.7 billion
BNSF’s fourth-quarter 2021 net profit rose 13% amid an 11% gain in revenues, the western U.S. railroad reported.
Union Pacific: CP-KCS merger could harm competition at Laredo gateway
Union Pacific has asked federal regulators to ensure that a merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern does not undermine competition at the Laredo, Texas, gateway.
NS says CPKC merger threatens Meridian Speedway intermodal business
Norfolk Southern sees the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger as a threat to its Meridian Speedway intermodal traffic.
BNSF critical of CPKC merger proposals, seeks protections from regulators
BNSF Railway has urged federal regulators to take steps to protect cross-border traffic to and from Mexico as part of any approval of the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger.
Unions to NMB: Release us from mediation
The BMWED/SMART-Mechanical Division bargaining coalition late last month petitioned the National Mediation Board (NMB) for a proffer of arbitration, requesting to be released from further mediation sessions with the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC); the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition unions support the move.
Five Class Is to STB: CP-KCS merger would harm competition
BNSF, CN, CSX, NS and UP on Monday filed their “comments and request for conditions” with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) on the proposed merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern.
Legislators urge BNSF to engage workers on new attendance policy
U.S. Representative Marie Newman (IL-03) on Friday March 4, 2022 led Congress members Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) in a letter urging BNSF Railway Company to re-engage in good faith discussions with their employees and unions regarding a newly imposed attendance policy.
TCRC members vote in favor of strike mandate at CP Rail
Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) has completed and tallied the results of a strike vote. There were 3,062 ballots sent out to the membership, with 96.7 per cent in favour of strike action if necessary.
Teamsters honor Women’s History Month
The Teamsters Union is proud to honor and recognize the achievements of our sisters during this month and throughout the year.
STB postpones Amtrak Gulf Coast hearing to April
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has rescheduled the evidentiary hearing for the Amtrak Gulf Coast case to April 4-5.
BNSF reports record financial results for 2021
BNSF Railway produced record profits in 2021 amid broad growth in traffic and revenue. For the year, BNSF’s operating income surged 13.7%, to $8.8 billion, as revenue rose 11.6%, to $22.5 billion, the railroad’s corporate parent, Berkshire Hathaway, reported on Saturday.
Delay requested for Amtrak, CSX STB evidentiary hearing
CSX, with Amtrak concurring, has asked the STB for a continuance (postponement) of the evidentiary hearing on Gulf Coast service originally scheduled to begin March 9, 2022, to April 5, 2022, with a second day, April 6, and a third day, April 7, held in reserve.
AAR reports rail traffic for the week ending Feb. 19, 2022
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 497,822 carloads and intermodal units, up 31.7 percent compared with the same week last year.
DOT releases supply chain resiliency action plan
DOT’s supply chain report lays out concrete steps that can be taken to improve our supply chains now and in the long-term, including investments in both physical and digital infrastructure to support America’s supply chain resiliency.
STB issues annual rail rate index study, 1985-2020
The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Economics (OE) has published the Annual Rail Rate Index Study: 1985-2020, summarizing trends in freight railroad rates.
NS seeks to boost capacity through hiring, operational changes
NS admits that its rail network is congested, particularly for international intermodal and automotive products services, but hopes that aggressive efforts to hire additional employees will address the capacity constraints.
SEPTA will borrow $800 million to pay for projects like station repairs, trolley upgrades
Projects include a $35 million overhaul of a Bridgeport viaduct on the Norristown High Speed Line, rehab of subway and Regional Rail stations, and trolley modernization.
BLET News
Final days to enroll in the BLET Short Term Disability Enhanced-Plan
Open Enrollment for the BLET’s Short Term Disability Enhanced-Plan (underwritten by Sun Life Financial) ends Friday, May 31, 2019. Those who meet the deadline will have their coverage take effect on June 1, 2019.
FRA just reduced the prospects for a safer railroad industry
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President and John Previsich, SMART TD President On Thursday, May 24, 2019, we were informed that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) had released a notice, withdrawing a 2016 notice of proposed rulemaking establishing a minimum train crew size for most rail freight operations in the United States. This news was not surprising.
Memorial Day 2019
As we observe Memorial Day 2019, I ask all members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen to say a special prayer for the women and men who have given their lives serving in our military and to honor them for defending our country and our way of life.
BLET to host Local Chairman training class, August 11-16, 2019
The BLET Education and Training Department will host a Local Chairman training class from August 11-16, 2019, at the BLET National Division headquarters and Training Center in Independence, Ohio. The class is designed to help Local Chairmen develop and hone the skills necessary to provide the best representation possible to our members.
Open enrollment for the BLET Short Term Disability Enhanced-Plan coverage
There are less than two weeks left in the open enrollment for the BLET’s Short Term Disability Enhanced-Plan underwritten by Sun Life Financial. The open enrollment will end on May 31, 2019 and those who enroll will have their coverage take effect on June 1, 2019.
Fack reelected Oklahoma State Legislative Board Chairman
Brother D. Craig Fack, a member of BLET Division 578 (Tulsa, Okla.), was reelected Chairman of the Oklahoma State Legislative Board during its quadrennial meeting held April 25-26, 2019.
BLET reaches tentative contract with M&NA
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a Tentative Agreement with the Missouri & Northern Arkansas Railroad (M&NA) governing rates of pay, benefits and work rules for nearly 80 operating employees.
Space remains for June 9-13 Secretary-Treasurer class
Registration is still open for the Secretary-Treasurer training class scheduled for June 9-13, 2019, at the BLET National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio. Registration has been extended through May 31.
Dave Brown reelected Minnesota State Legislative Board Chairman
David K. Brown was reelected by acclamation to his fourth term as Chairman of the Minnesota State Legislative Board at its 28th Quadrennial Meeting in Bloomington, Minn., April 28-May 1, 2019.
Governor signs two-person crew bill in Nevada
On May 15, organized labor secured a major victory for railroad workers and safety when Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak (D) signed a two-person crew bill into law.
