Rail Industry News
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.
AAR: U.S. carloads, intermodal register double-digit gains
U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Feb. 19, 2022, came in at 497,822 carloads and intermodal units, rising 31.7% from the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported on Feb. 23.
STB issues environmental study scope for CP-KCS merger
The STB’s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) late last week issued the final scope of study for the environmental impact statement the office is preparing for the merger application of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern.
Utah legislature at odds with UP over switcher locomotives
Utah lawmakers are steamrolling ahead with a bill to strong-arm the largest railroad company in North America, with a top legislative leader accusing the Union Pacific of being an unwilling and uncooperative partner in efforts to clear the state’s troublesome air pollution.
BLET News
Two-person crew bill introduced in Ohio House
A comprehensive railroad safety bill that would require two employees to work on freight trains was introduced in the State of Ohio’s House of Representatives in early April.
Deadlines approaching for BLET regional meeting in St. Louis
As a reminder, registration is ongoing for the BLET regional meeting at the Hilton at the Ballpark in St. Louis, Mo., June 24-28, 2019. The deadline to make hotel reservations is May 2, and the last day to register for the regional meeting is May 22.
Former BLET District Chairman Sonny Kertesz, 1940-2019
Former BLET District Chairman John W. “Sonny” Kertesz passed away on February 18, 2019, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was 79 years old.
BLET legislative chairmen conclude 44th annual meeting
Members of the BLET’s National Association of State Legislative Board Chairmen (NASLBC) concluded their 44th annual meeting on March 27, 2019, in San Diego, Calif.
Former BLET General Chairman Danny Knorek, 1947-2019
Daniel M. (Danny) Knorek, former General Chairman of the CSX Northern Railroad Lines General Committee of Adjustment, passed away on April 1, 2019 with Cheryl, his wife of 49 years, by his side. He was 71 years old.
Precision Scheduled Railroading: Short Term Gains at What Cost?
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President Much is being made in the railroad industry and other transportation media about the Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) wildfire sweeping from coast to coast. Proponents of PSR will tell you that it will prove to be the industry’s savior. But it also begs the following question; just what does the industry need to be saved from?
2018 BLET Bylaws available online
An electronic copy of the 2018 edition of the BLET Bylaws is now available in the Members Area of the Brotherhood’s website.
BLET reaches tentative agreement with Louisville & Indiana
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with the Louisville & Indiana Railroad (LIRC). Ballots were mailed today to active members of the BLET employed by LIRC who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
Large U.S. rail unions announce national two-person crew legislation
Two large railroad unions in the United States have pledged their joint support for the Safe Freight Act legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska).
Two-person crew bill becomes law in Colorado
Colorado Governor Jared S. Polis signed a two-person crew bill into law on March 21, signifying a significant boost to railroad safety in the state.
